Supporting Teen Mental Health During the Pandemic
/How Can I Support My Teen and Their Mental Health During COVID-19?
Raising a teenager can be challenging! Adding a global pandemic into the mix does not help. This post is written to inform and educate parents on how to best support tweens and teens impacted by COVID-19.
Let’s think back to March 2020 - Schools were in session, local businesses were open, and everything felt normal. Spring break was just around the corner and kids of all ages were ecstatic for the week break from school obligations. Little did anyone know that schools would not be returning in session until 2021.
The pandemic introduced online classrooms, such as Zoom and Google Classroom, which created a completely new experience for not only teens, but for parents too. These children and adolescents were forced into this new situation and had to overcome the impossible. They did this by teaching themselves how to utilize new technology while also being stuck at home away from friends and everyday normal life. These components could have likely caused an increase in anxiety, stress, fear, sadness, and hopelessness because they were unsure when it would come to an end. If these symptoms have not subsided it might be time to seek additional help.
When to Seek Help
As a parent, it might be challenging to tell the difference between emotions and behaviors that are a normal part of growing up and for those that may cause for a concern. Teenagers may benefit from an evaluation and treatment from a mental health professional if they:
Are sleeping excessively or not enough
Have lost interest in favorite activities
Are spending more time alone
Are constantly fatigued
Are having trouble focusing or paying attention
Are avoiding social activities and friends
Have body image issues
Are eating too much or too little
Having constant worries or fears
Are engaging in self-harm behaviors
Are engaging in risky or destructive behavior
Having thoughts of suicide
How to Communicate with Your Teen About Seeking Help
Noticing new emotions, feelings and behaviors coming from your teen can be tricky to confront.
They are in the stage of their life where they begin to assert their own independence and are making decisions for themselves. Having a healthy and trusting relationship with your teen is more important than ever. Teenagers may be constantly on their phones or social media, but when it comes to conversations with parents, they may go mute and be uninterested. Three tips that may assist in communicating with your teen:
Listen – Getting teens to talk can often be challenging, but sometimes sitting back and listening is an effective way to gain insight. Teens are more likely to open up if they do not feel pressured.
Show trust – Show your teen that you have trust in them. Teens want to be taken seriously, especially by parents and other authority figures. One thing you can do is asking your teen for a favor which shows you are putting trust in them.
Validate their feelings – Let your teen know you are listening and care by validating their feelings. For example, if your child tells you about a bad day at school, try not to respond with “tomorrow is a new day”, empathize by reflecting back and say saying like, “that does sound like a hard day. Validation will lead teens to trust you and will likely share more things about their lives.
Example of Conversation Between Parent and Teen Regarding Starting Therapy
Parent: “I have noticed you acting and behaving a little differently over the past couple months, could you tell me a little bit more about what’s going on?”
Teen: “I think it started during the lockdown because I was stuck at home, couldn’t see my friends, and was forced to do my homework online”.
Parent: “I understand that can be really difficult. Is there anything I can help you with?”.
Teen: “I don’t know… I’ve just been feeling really sad and really anxious at the same time”.
Parent: “Maybe we can look into you talking to someone about how you have been feeling, what do you think about that?”.
Teen: “Yeah…maybe…I wouldn’t want my friends to know I am doing that though”.
Parent: “Ok, we don’t have to tell anyone. What if we talked to the family doctor and see if she recommends any specific therapists?”
Teen: “Ok, I guess we can try”.
Parent: “Great, I’ll set up an appointment where you can share with her all the symptoms you have been feeling and she can recommend some places or therapists that she thinks will fit your needs”.
Choosing a Mental Health Professional
Choosing a mental health professional might feel a bit daunting, but a good start is by reaching out to your child’s pediatrician or primary care physician for a referral and by sharing with them the behaviors and emotions that you have noticed recently. Once having a referral, check the website and refer to specialties, therapists, and services provided. Therapists usually provide an array of treatment modalities and interventions, but it might be beneficial to look for therapists who have had experience working with teens.
Get Immediate Help
If your teen, other children, you, or someone else you know is thinking about wanting to hurt themselves, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline toll-free at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Texting is also an option at the Crisis Text Line (HELLO to 741741) or visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org. If there is imminent danger dial 911.
Additional Resource for Parents or Caregivers
Pandemic Parenting: Free science-based resource including blogs, videos, and podcasts for parents and caregivers navigating the COVID-19 pandemic in ways that are immediately accessible and useful. https://www.pandemic-parent.org
Related Resources
National Institute of Mental Health. Child and Adolescent mental health. (2021, August 17). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health (2021). NIMH Children and Mental Health: Is This Just a Stage? (NIH Publication No. 21-MH-8085). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health
Written by: Danielle Sturm, CMHC Intern
