Posted on July 23rd, 2024

"Mental health conditions are very common. Research shows that 1 in 6 youth/adolescents will experience a mental health condition in any given time. Additionally, 50% of all lifetime mental health conditions begin before the age of 14 and 75% start before the age of 24. However, identifying warning signs or symptoms and seeking treatment early can make a difference in reducing the impact of a mental health condition.

To be able to provide the best possible care for your children’s mental health, it is helpful to be aware of what to look for, when to worry and how to respond.

Children go through developmental phases that include changes in emotions, thoughts and behavior. Most of the time, these are typical periods in development, such as the “terrible twos” when children usually have trouble separating and experience “melt-downs,” which is a stark contrast to one year olds who are not as troubled by exploring their world.

When teenagers give you the cold shoulder, shut down or “snap” at you, they may be trying, as teens should, to become their own individuals. During this time, they’re developing their personal identities and breaking away from the family. Again, this is typical behavior. But when this type of situation persists or begins causing difficulty in their daily life, it may be a symptom of a mental health condition. This is the time to intervene".

As a life coach and motivational speaker, Illuminate Your Journey can provide coaching guidance to support adolescent mental health.

: National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Kids. Retrieved from NAMI.