Anxiety and Depression in Teens: Signs, Symptoms, and Support Strategies
Experts warn that the teen mental health crisis post-COVID has become an emergency. Anxiety and depression affect more kids and teenagers than ever. According to Children’s Health Canada and the Conference Board of Canada, an estimated 1.6 million of our kids and teenagers suffer from mental health concerns resulting in long delays in access to help for anxiety and depression. The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports the number increases to 7.5 million by the age of 25.
This rise in teen anxiety and depression continues to worry parents, educators, and healthcare providers, affecting every aspect of a teen's life, from academic performance to social connections. Adolescent pressures might aggravate these mental health challenges, leading to decreased concentration and motivation and feelings of profound isolation, loneliness, and hopelessness.
Child & teen counselling at Williamson & Associates provides tailored support to meet the unique needs of teens facing anxiety and depression and their families.
Understanding Anxiety and Depression in Teens
Most teenagers are very self-conscious about their appearance or anxious when they do not receive the validation they were hoping for on social media. This still doesn't mean your teen has anxiety or depression. However, there is a concern when these feelings are so strong that they cause a child a lot of distress or make it hard for them to learn, have fun, or connect with others.
Anxiety is marked by persistent worry or fear that interferes with daily activities. However, the signs and symptoms of anxiety in teens may differ from those in adults.
Anxiety in teenagers can manifest as sudden drops in academic performance or excessive concern about fitting in with peers. If your teen has anxiety, they might appear overly conforming, seek constant approval from friends, or experience panic attacks before social gatherings.
Meanwhile, teens experiencing depression may withdraw from friends and family, become unreasonably irritable and angry, or feel constantly exhausted. Depression in teenagers often goes beyond simple sadness. Your child may feel hopeless, or you may notice changes in their appetite or sleep patterns. They may lose interest in activities they used to enjoy. A once outgoing teen may suddenly shun social gatherings, or a top student might begin to neglect assignments and grades.
Due to developmental influences, such as the development of identity and the journey toward self-discovery, academic and sports pressures, and social dynamics, their mental health concerns may be masked and misinterpreted as insecurity, irritability, withdrawal from family, or declining educational performance. Anxiety and depression can also hide behind excessive overachievement, perfectionism, or a façade of social engagement, making it challenging to recognize the child's underlying struggle.
Factors Contributing to Teen Anxiety and Depression
Social Pressures and Academic Stress
Social expectations, peer dynamics, and the pervasive influence of social media can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, apprehension, and loneliness. In addition, academic demands such as high expectations, tests, and college applications can cause stress that an adolescent is not equipped to handle, leading to mental health concerns.
Family Dynamics and Environmental Stressors
Family dynamics, including ongoing conflict or divorce, along with environmental stressors like bullying, community violence, job insecurity, expensive housing, global political uncertainty and technology and media overload, can make it difficult to disengage, profoundly impacting a teenager's emotional state.
Support Strategies for Teens
Encouraging Open Communication
Listen carefully and without judgment when your teen opens up about their worries. While acknowledging and validating their feelings, help them understand that adolescence brings unique uncertainties and pressures. Encourage them to link their concerns to specific events. This may help them understand their triggers and feel less overwhelmed.
Promoting Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Help your teenager develop a sustainability plan to manage stress and regulate their emotions. Encourage them to practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques, journal, or get involved in physical activities. These sustainability strategies can empower them to be with their anxiety and depression more positively and effectively.
Seeking Professional Support
When anxiety and depression are persistent or severe to the point where they disrupt the child's everyday life, this is when you might consider seeking professional assistance from therapists or counsellors specializing in adolescent mental health. Williamson & Associates offers a range of evidence-based therapies tailored for teenagers, including:
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
Our trained counsellors provide the support necessary to navigate these challenges individually and as a family.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Building Resilience and Self-Esteem
Resilience is our ability to handle challenges and quickly recover after adversity. To foster resilience and increase self-esteem in teenagers:
Foster self-compassion and self-love
Model positive body image for your child
Encourage them to use affirmations and positive self-talk
Encourage your teen to set achievable goals
Help them engage in a sustainability plan
Encourage them to take regular breaks from technology
Teach your teenager to adopt a growth mindset, think of failures as learning opportunities, and recognize their intrinsic worth
These strategies can boost their confidence and ability to cope with life's challenges.
Community and Peer Support
Leverage peer support networks and community resources, as this offers a teenager who has anxiety and depression crucial validation, empathy, and a sense of connection. Encourage your teen to spend time with real-life friends. Spend time in nature, participate in activities together, volunteer, and give back to your community.
Community and peer support reduce isolation and enhance the teen's feeling of belonging, which are necessary parts of your child's healing journey.
Teen Therapy for Anxiety and Depression in Olds, Alberta
The teen mental health crisis exacerbated post-COVID, has led to an alarming increase in anxiety and depression, with over 1.2 million Canadian children and teenagers impacted. Anxiety and depression in teens are developmentally specific. They may be difficult to spot, denying children much-needed treatment and support.
Our counsellors at Williamson & Associates provide support through evidence-based therapies aimed at addressing teens' specific mental health needs. We focus on the importance of open communication, creating a sustainability plan, and encouraging a supportive environment to foster resilience and self-esteem.
This is hard and you and your teen are not alone. If you want to address teen anxiety and depression in a safe, supportive space, contact us to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation.