(BPT) - According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly half of U.S. teenagers have experienced a mental health disorder at some point, with around 1 in 5 living with a serious diagnosed condition. For these teens, it's crucial to receive support and care as early as possible to ensure a healthier, happier transition from their teen years to young adulthood.
About half of mental health conditions start as early as age 14, a pivotal age when students are moving from middle school to high school. Today's teens face complex stressors such as academic, family and peer pressure, an isolating social media environment that can include cyberbullying, plus questions of personal identity and growth, physical development and heightened awareness of global issues.
Without intervention or treatment early on, these stressors can lead to additional emotional, psychological and physical problems as teens seek out ways to cope with difficult feelings and experiences.
"Teens need support. Untreated mental health challenges in adolescence can have lasting consequences, including chronic mental health disorders in adulthood, academic decline and increased risk of substance use," said Tramaine EL-Amin, vice president, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA).
Even more alarming, suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people, creating even more urgency for early intervention.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, take time to learn about effective ways to reach teenagers before they experience a mental health crisis.
Peer-to-peer support is crucial for teens
Research confirms what common sense suggests: Teens are far more likely to want to talk to one another than to ask for help from a mental health professional.
"Friends provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where teens can feel understood and less isolated," added EL-Amin. "By connecting with peers who have similar experiences, teens gain coping skills, self-awareness and emotional validation."
When a teen shows signs of a mental health challenge, their friends may be the first to offer help. This natural inclination to turn to peers forms the basis of Teen Mental Health First Aid (Teen MHFA), developed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Designed for students in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18), the evidence-based training teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in friends and peers, giving teens the confidence to begin difficult conversations with empathy and care.
How Teen MHFA makes a difference
Instructors in schools and organizations across the country have trained nearly 170,000 teenagers to provide peer-to-peer support. Schools, youth-serving organizations and their partners can apply to be a Teen MHFA site. Teen MHFA can be taught as a standalone course or as part of a school health curriculum.
Learners will be able to spot warning signs of mental health challenges and understand the impact of violence and bullying on mental health. Thanks to their training, they'll know how to start conversations about these topics with their friends — and recognize when they need to connect a friend with a parent, guardian or other trusted adult.
Teen MHFA has an easy-to-remember acronym, ROLE, to describe the steps to take when supporting a peer.
Recognize signs that your friend may be going through a hard time.
Open a conversation with your friend by asking how they are and listening.
Link to a parent, guardian or trusted adult to provide support.
Encourage your friend by staying connected and showing you care.
Teens who participate in the program learn how to help each other through hard times. Topics include anxiety, depression, eating disorders, bullying, social media, substance use and ADHD. In addition to learning how to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in their peers, teens learn techniques for practicing self-care and sharing those tips with their friends.
"Most importantly, young people in Teen MHFA learn that recovery is possible," said EL-Amin. "Through that process, they help reduce the stigma that still exists around mental health treatment."
