Here’s How Teens can Support Each Other Amid the Mental Health Crisis
The global repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have undeniably affected individuals across various facets of life. From enduring social isolation to grappling with complex family dynamics, the pandemic presented a variety of challenges to the way we lived our lives. But what many people didn’t anticipate is the staggering toll it would exact on the mental health of teens.
For me, the time I spent during lockdown felt aimless and devoid of direction. I found it difficult to muster enthusiasm for school and connect with my friends and classmates. And I wasn’t alone. Research suggests that less than 50% of students felt adequately supported by their schools during the pandemic.
But other findings are even more disconcerting. The pandemic exacerbated an already growing mental health crisis, causing the American Academy of Pediatrics to declare a national emergency. A recent report from the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 44% of teens experience “persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness,” marking a substantial increase from 26% in 2009.
Teen girls have borne the brunt of the crisis, with a whooping 57% reporting feeling sad and hopeless and 30% seriously considering suicide. These statistics are deeply alarming, especially as the situation only continues to deteriorate.
Why the Pandemic Worsened the Crisis
In March of 2022, the CDC published their first nationally representative survey on the mental state of teens during the COVID pandemic. The results were shocking.
37% of high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic
55% of high school students experienced emotional abuse from an adult
11% experienced physical abuse, including hitting, kicking, beating, and other physical harm
29% reported that an adult in their home lost their job
36% of students experienced racism, especially Asian students (64%), Black students (55%) and students of multiple races (55%)
Mental health in teens was already declining before the pandemic. This was due to a variety of factors, some of which include academic pressure, bullying, abusive and unsupportive family environments and social media.
COVID-19 introduced a variety of additional negative events that further harmed the already fragile state of teen well being. Some examples include increased loneliness, violence, and cyberbullying. Other factors could be school unpredictability, death of a loved one, and financial instability.
Many of these results were compounding. About 1 in 13 adolescents reported experiencing multiple adverse childhood experiences during the pandemic which correlated to higher levels of poor mental health and suicidal behaviors.
What Teens Can Do
The tips below can be used to guide teens in helping friends who may be experiencing a mental health challenge which is when a change in a person’s thoughts, emotions, or actions disturbs their ability to work, sleep, complete their daily activities, or interact with others. This could include anxiety, depression, or eating disorders and can develop into a mental health crisis in which a person is at risk of harming themself or others.
These tips are based on my training in teen mental health first aid from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Look for Warning Signs
If you notice that a friend makes comments that they want to injure themselves or others, experiences changes in their mood or action, or is experiencing very negative feelings, find a responsible adult to help your friend.
A friend may be experiencing a challenge if they:
Threaten to hurt of kill themself or others
Act recklessly
Talk, write, or otherwise communicate about death
Display anger towards others
Lose a sense of purpose direction, or reason for living
Feel an overwhelming sense of sadness or hopelessness
Feel trapped
Have big changes in their emotions, mood, or actions
Have intense or overwhelming anxiety or paranoia
Withdraw from school, friends, family, and events
Start doing worse in school
Drastically change their eating or sleeping patterns
You should also consider their personal circumstances. For example, your friend may be at higher risk of developing a mental health challenge if:
They have recently experienced a stress at home or school
Has been through a traumatic event such as death of a loved one, abuse, neglect, or bullying
Has access to a gun, other weapons, or harmful substances
Do More Listening than Talking
If you notice warning signs of a crisis, calmly approach your friend to ask if they are ok. Although you may want to focus on the best way to fix a situation, it’s more important to be a good listener. Most of the time, when people are experiencing a challenge, they want to be understood and aren't expecting you to fix their problems.
Believe your friend and try to take a non-judgemental stance. Take any potential crisis seriously and gain a good understanding of your friend’s situation. Because the person may not be able to communicate very well, make sure to speak calmly and give them a good chance to talk.
Seek Professional Help When Needed
You should take signs of a mental health crisis very seriously and contact a trusted adult. If your friend doesn’t want to, try explaining to them why it could be beneficial. For instance, “Involving an adult can help keep you safe and help find you professional help.” Always encourage your friend to choose which adult they feel comfortable contacting.
If your friend still doesn’t want to contact an adult and you feel the situation is an immediate problem, you may need to tell an adult without your friend’s permission. Although it may seem scary to go against your friend’s wishes, mental health challenges can make it difficult for one to think clearly. Your friend may have anxiety about contacting an adult and believe the worst will happen. Once your friend has support, they will likely be glad that you took action. The health and safety of your friend and others is more important than confidentiality.
If there isn’t an immediate threat, you can ask a trusted adult if they feel your friend’s situation is an immediate problem without mentioning their name and see if they have any advice on ways they can support your friend. You can also seek text or online counselling that maintains your friend’s anonymity.
Take Care of Your Own Mental Health
Remember that you don’t have to know the answers to everything and “fix” the situation for your friend. Do what you can to help them, but also know where your limits lie. You are not expected to be their caretaker or counsellor and are not responsible for covering up or making excuses for them.
Don’t attempt to solve all their problems by yourself if you feel that more people are able and willing to help your friend. If you feel that things are getting too difficult, it's ok to tell your friend that you need to take a break. If you’re not coping well with dealing with your friend’s struggles, it may be a good idea to seek help from an adult.
Remember that Safety Comes First
If there is a high chance that your friend might try to harm themself or others, it is vital to keep them safe and try to connect them to a trusted adult. Never put yourself in a dangerous situation. For example:
Don’t try to remove weapons away from someone who may be attempting to harm themself
Don’t sit in a car driven by someone who is angry, upset, or has been drinking
Concluding Remarks
Addressing the mental health crisis among teens requires collaboration and empathy. With the pandemic worsening existing challenges to mental health, proactive measures and collaboration amongst teens is needed.
Recognizing warning signs, listening without judgement, and seeking professional help when needed are crucial for providing effective support. Together, we can build a foundation for resilience and healing and ensure that our friends and peers don’t face challenges alone.
