Four Ways to Support Teen Mental Health

 Generations of parents have approached the teenage years with some trepidation, preparing themselves for some turbulent years as their child starts to slowly morph into an adult. But children today are facing this challenging period of their lives with the added weight of a mental health crisis.

Analysis of the survey ‘Mental Health of Children and Young People in England’ showed that the number of children and young people with a mental health condition had risen dramatically.It stated that 60% more young people had a probable mental health condition in 2021 compared to 2017. The survey’s findings for adolescent girls were particularly concerning with almost one in four girls aged between 17 and 19 (24.8%) having a probable mental health condition in 2021.

 Adolescence is such a crucial period for developing social and emotional habits important for lifelong mental well-being, so here are four ways we can support our Teens to develop healthily.

1.Encourage Autonomy

 Humans do not like being told what to do, we much prefer to find our own solutions and when we do, we are much more likely to implement the solution we’ve discovered than to take advice. Teenagers are no different, in fact more so as they are entering a second period of growth in independence and autonomy (the first was during the toddler years).

They start to break away from the shackles of parental control that was so vital for their survival when they were younger. Younger teens begin to reply on the support of their peers rather than their parents to navigate through emotional challenges. Their friends’ thoughts and actions are initially important to the child’s emotional autonomy. As they grow, they become more confident in their own decision making.

 As parents we can support this process by providing opportunities for our children to practise being autonomous in the safety of the family unit. Encouraging a teen to contribute or make some family decisions, such as what the family meal should be today or where you could plan your next holiday, will help them feel heard and valued, whilst encourage their autonomy and their self-belief.

2. Exercise

We have said this before and we will say it again, exercise is vital to brain health. Exercise induces good blood flow to the brain, enabling all the nutrients required to carry out the brain’s job to be delivered, while simultaneously releasing feel good neurotransmitters (we’ve all heard of endorphins). Teenagers need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise most days.

 In research from Yale University, it was found that teenagers who took part in organised sports had a more positive self-image and greater self-esteem than teens who weren’t physically active. They were happier, more grounded, and less likely to engage in problematic behaviour.

 For naturally athletically gifted teens, this might come easily, but for others this may feel like a difficult goal. Forcing a child into team sports will likely backfire so instead help them explore what else is available locally and encourage them to try new things.

Making exercise a family activity by taking an evening walk or going for bike rides on the weekends could work, but the very best way to encourage them to get moving is to model the behaviour yourself.

3.Keep talking

 You may have to get quite creative here as teens are going through a natural process of withdrawing from family life. They may become monosyllabic or  prefer to text rather than talk as they try to create some privacy in their lives. They are striving to become more independent so withdrawing is usually normal and healthy. In fact it is an instinctive behaviour, from an evolutionary perspective a teen needs to pull away from their primary tribe and find a secondary tribe where they can safely procreate.

At the same time as affording them some privacy, it is important that they still feel you care. Just being in their space sometimes can be helpful, hanging around the side-lines (sometimes literally) and being ‘ready’; for when they feel like talking. Even if that is 1130pm on a school night.

 Perhaps watch a boxset together even if it isn’t something you’d never watch alone, eat meals together with the tv off, ask them about their world, know their who their friends are and be interested in what they are interested in.

 Don’t give up and don’t take it personally. They really do need you to keep trying, so prioritise spending time together and experiment to see the best time and place to connect with your teen.

4.Self Care

 We have a lovely hypnosis script that we use in clinic called ‘personal boundaries’. It emphasises the importance of looking after yourself as a priority. If we are calm and happy we have ample recourses left to care for others. We need to be comfortable with putting ourselves first and meeting our own needs. If we are looking after our mental health properly then we can cope with the challenges of living with a teenager and whatever else life brings. But when our mental health is struggling we can lose our cool, rational thinking and become impatient, frustrated, irritable and potentially a bit childish ourselves as we slip back into our primitive mind.

 We refer back to what we call the 3p’s in clinic, the things we need to do to keep our brains healthy; positive activity, positive interaction and positive thinking.

 With the concerning increase in mental health issues in teenagers, Parents need to remain vigilant and not dismiss odd behaviour as normal teenage angst. If your child has withdrawn more than ‘normal’, or their sleeping and eating patterns become irregular, if their school work is suffering or they are becoming socially isolated or angry, it may be time to get some help. You know your child best, so trust your instincts.

 At Old Town Hypnotherapy we offer completely free Initial consultations of up to 1 hr, either in our clinics in Swindon and Cheltenham or online. With our teenage clients we request parents attend the Initial Consultation too.

 If you’d like further information get in touch, all of our contact details can be found on our website www.oldtownhypnotherapy.co.uk