How Parents and Caregivers Can Support Teen Mental Health
When an adolescent’s mental health is strong, they can manage the emotional highs and lows that come with exploring their world.
Help is available for mental health concerns. Learn how to support the teens in your life.
Finding Teen Mental Health Help
The right support at the right time can help a teen thrive and prevent problems with learning, relationships, or harmful substances.
Help is available in Maryland through:
- the 988 hotline (crisis support). Call or text 988, or chat in English or Spanish.
- primary care providers, like your pediatrician or family doctor
- school counselors
- 211 teen texting program called MDYoungMinds
- telehealth support programs
- mental health professionals, like counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, or psychologists
You can also search for mental health providers in the state's behavioral health database, which the Maryland Information Network powers.
Need to Talk?
Call or Text 988
Anyone in need of assistance with mental health or substance use-related needs can call 988. Learn about 988 in Maryland.
Warning signs
In many children, mental health concerns go undetected, or they don't get help. Knowing the signs can help the teen get help.
Research shows that 50% of mental health problems emerge by age 14.
According to the Mental Health Association of Maryland, parents and caregivers should look for these signs of a mental illness or mental health condition:
- Difficulty at home, school, or socially. The child may get into fights or do poorly at school.
- Worries all the time.
- Noticeable changes to sleep, mood, appetite, or behavior.
- Patterns of repetitive activity that interfere with attending school, sleep, or appetite.
- Increased feelings of sadness, anger, stress, worry, low self-esteem, and grief.
- Doesn't laugh or smile.
- Frequent tantrums, stomaches or headaches with no known medical cause.
- Unable to sit still.
- Doesn't appear to listen to instructions.
- Acts without thinking.
- Has behaviors that developmentally should no longer be an issue like clinginess, wetting, or soiling.
- Has trouble making friends because of aggressive or frightening behavior.
- Spends more time alone.
- Avoids activities or things the individual once loved.
- Harder time in situations that used to be okay.
- Needs more support.
- Has sexual behavior that's more than normal curiosity.
- Plays with fire repeatedly.
- Cruelty to animals.
- Hears voices or sees things.
- Uses drugs or alcohol.
If you have a concern, get help and support. Trust your gut as the parent or caregiver.
Signs of teen depression
Depression is one type of mental health condition.
20% of adolescents aged 12-17 years have experienced a major depressive episode, according to the CDC.
While we often think of depression as having the "blues," that's not always the sign, especially in children, teens/adolescents and young adults. Depression is more than being moody.
The signs of depression may change as the individual ages.
For example, some of the symptoms in a child with depression may be:
- anxiety
- being cranky
- clingy
- refusing to go to school
Older children and teens may:
- get in trouble at school
- get frustrated easily
- feel restless
- have low self-esteem
Young adults may:
- be irritable
- have a negative view of life
When these feelings continue most of the time for weeks and you can't focus or do things you once enjoyed, it's time to get help.
questions to help identify depression
To help identify and catch depression early, the National Institute of Mental Health suggests asking yourself these questions.
Does my child or do I feel….?
- Sad, anxious, worthless or “empty”?
- Uninterested in activities I once enjoyed?
- Easily frustrated, angry, or irritable?
- I’m withdrawing from friends and family?
- That I’m not doing as well in school?
- My daily eating and sleeping habits changed?
- Tired, fatigued or have experienced memory loss?
- Like harming myself or committing suicide?
Symptoms may vary from person to person.
You can have a few symptoms or just a few.
Talk to a trained professional if you have concerns. Call 988 for immediate help.
Social Media and Mental health
There is a link between depression and perceived isolation and teens with high social media use.
High internet use and internet addiction are also linked with self-harm.
Teens who spend three or more hours per day on an electronic device are 35% more likely to have a suicide risk factor like making a plan, according to research published in the Association for Psychological Science.
If you know a teen who talks about harming themselves or others, get help immediately. Call or text 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in English or Spanish.
social media warning signs
Monitor a child’s social media and online activity.
Know the warning signs of psychological distress. These may include messages like:
- “I can’t do anything.” #hatemsyself
- “I hate everyone.”
- Another day not going to school.
- Negative hashtags and emojis like #depressed and #cutting.
- Talk of wanting to die, intense and urgent emotional despair, giving away personal items, saying goodbye.
- Impulsive behavior.
- Insomnia posts.
If you or someone you know is showing signs of crisis, contact a trained professional immediately by calling or texting 988.
Support for Parents
You know what to do when your child has a fever or ear infection, but what about treating their mental health? You can do the same thing - call your child's pediatrician.
They can help with mental health concerns like teen anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma and more.
Have an honest conversation. If the pediatrician doesn't offer in-office support, they can get you and your child support through the statewide mental health support system.
Talking to your pediatrician
So, how do you talk to your pediatrician about a child’s mental health?
Call and speak with the office and ask them for an in-person or telehealth appointment. Determine who should go to the appointment.
Should both parents/caregivers attend, and should the child to go to the appointment?
The Mental Health Association of Maryland and Maryland Behavioral Health Integration in Pediatric Primary Care (BHIPP) developed a tipsheet with step-by-step instructions for discussing a child’s mental health with your doctor.
The tipsheet includes detailed questions and talking points to initiate the conversation and ensure your child receives the necessary help.
Before the appointment, document behavior and concerns so you have something to reference during the discussion and specific examples to discuss.
Be honest and detailed in these conversations. Remember, you are not alone, and help is available.
If the conversation is difficult, let your physician know this.
Remember, you’re having that meeting because you care deeply about the child.
Your doctor may refer the child to a wide variety of mental health professionals, including:
- psychiatrist
- psychiatric nurse
- social worker
- licensed professional counselors
- psychotherapists
- neuropsychologists
About BHIPP
Maryland Behavioral Integration in Pediatric Primary Care (BHIPP) works with pediatricians, emergency medical professionals, family physicians, school nurses, and other health professionals to support teens and adolescents.
Specialists are available in areas such as:
- Medication management:
- Diagnostic issues
- Developmental delays
- School/learning issues
- Autism spectrum disorders
- Trauma
- Early childhood mental health
Referrals are made through a primary care physician.
Mental health resources for teens and children
There are several resources to support teens and children with their mental health.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 for immediate support.
You can also search for counseling and support groups in the state's behavioral health database, powered by Maryland Information Network.
There is also a youth-focused text message support system available. Teens can sign up for MDYoungMinds. It provides supportive text messages. These may include resources on depression, teen and adolescent mental health and support programs.
Maryland Coalition of Families
You can also get support from organizations like Maryland Coalition of Families. They support mental health services for children and can help you navigate services at school and in the community while also advocating for your child at every stage of development.
Download their Children's Health Matters Family Resource Kit in English or Spanish. It's a comprehensive guide to mental health symptoms and signs while also providing treatment options and support in Maryland.
Through the Maryland Coalition of Families Taking Flight program, teens can also connect with peers who’ve experienced a mental health concern or trauma.
Mental Health Association
The Mental Health Association of Maryland also has detailed information for specific mental health conditions and resources that can help.
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