According to the WHO, half of all mental health conditions begin by age 14, and most go undetected and untreated. Moodiness is normal in teenagers, but some changes are a sign they need more support.
Imagine your usually chatty 15-year-old spending every evening in their room, dropping football, and snapping at everyone. You put it down to being a teenager. One night you sit on the edge of their bed and simply ask how they’re really doing. They cry and tell you they’ve been struggling for months. That conversation is the start of getting help.
Warning signs to watch for
- Withdrawing from friends, family or activities they used to enjoy
- Changes in sleep or eating
- Falling school performance or missing school
- Persistent sadness, irritability or anger
- Talking about feeling worthless, hopeless or being a burden
- Unexplained cuts, burns or covering up in hot weather
- Using alcohol or drugs
- Excessive worry or panic attacks
Look for changes that last more than two weeks or affect daily life.
How to start the conversation
- Choose a relaxed moment, like in the car or on a walk
- Say what you’ve noticed without judgement
- Listen more than you talk; don’t rush to fix
- Ask directly about self-harm or suicide if you’re worried. Asking doesn’t put the idea in their head.
But where do we get help?
Start with your healthcare provider, school counsellor or school nurse. Many countries have youth mental health services and helplines. If your teen talks about suicide with a plan, has self-harmed seriously, or you think they’re in immediate danger, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department.
Your next step: Find one relaxed moment this week to ask your teenager, “How are you really doing?” and listen.
Sources: World Health Organization (Adolescent mental health), UNICEF, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, YoungMinds.
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