Health

YOUR TEEN’S MENTAL HEALTH a crisis you can cope with

Written by Jeanna Padilla, PNP, PMHS

MENTAL HEALTH. ANXIETY. DEPRESSION.

----------------------------------------------------------------Saying these words out loud can cause stress. Now add the word teen in front of it. It gives a whole new level of angs. In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry declared a national emergency in adolescent mental health. Our teenagers are facing things we can’t imagine. Increased burden of academics, competitive extracurricular activities, social media among many other things competing for their attention. They are constantly overstimulated and most teenagers have few, if any, coping mechanisms.

You’re probably thinking, “Yes, I know there is a mental health crisis, but what can I do about it?”

Here are 7 ways to help your adolescent with anxiety:

----------------------------------------------------------------1. Social media // Ideally we would keep them away from social media. If they are on it, this will be a little harder. It’s well established that social media use negatively affects mental health. It significantly contributes to both anxiety and depression. The constant comparison of ourselves to others and the onslaught of information (most of which is not screened for accuracy) is overwhelming to an adult brain. Imagine the effects on the teenage brain! 2. Limit screen time // Especially video games. Many teenagers “make friends” through gaming. The problem is, they’ve never met these people. Aside from the danger that people can be posing as children, it is also a false sense of friendship. Screen time also affects the developing brain negatively and can become addictive. 3. Volunteering // Get them to do something outside of themselves. This could be school activities or locally like food banks or the humane society. This helps them focus their attention externally on helping others. 4. Extracurricular activities // Teenagers need self confidence. They need something they are good at whether it is sports, school, or art. Keep in mind, this needs to be balanced. They shouldn’t be so busy they can’t focus on anything else or not be able to handle the expectations. 5. Community // Humans need community. This can be a group of friends, a team, family members,

anyone who is supportive of your teen. Know who this community is and be involved in it too. 6. Exercise // The benefits of exercise on physical and mental health are well established. Walking, running, yoga, or anything that gets your teen moving for 20 to 30 minutes a day. 7. Encouragement // Encourage your teen (and lead by example) useful everyday coping techniques like healthy eating and sleep habits and relaxation techniques. You may also consider teen life coaching to help develop these skills.

Finally, know when to seek help. If your child expresses a desire to hurt themselves or others, professional help is imperative. If your child’s anxiety is affecting their ability to do daily activities like go to school or spend time with friends, schedule an appointment with your medical provider. Together we can help our teens through this mental health journey and give them tools to last a lifetime. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jeanna Padilla is a board certified pediatric nurse practitioner with an additional certification in pediatric primary care mental health at Northwest Pediatrics in Hayden. She is the cofounder of SPARK Coaching for teenagers.