Helping your friend or teen with depression is a challenge, sometimes. You feel helpless and wonder what to do in coping with this situation. The more you have knowledge about depression, how it affects your friend, the better you’ll be able to provide assistance. Let’s find out what you can do for them.
How To Help Friends Who Are Suffering From Anxiety Or Depression
Teenagers are usually the first to notice when a friend has a mental disorder. Find out how you can help. In recent years, mental health disorders in children and teens have increased. Untreated mental disorders in children can be serious. Around one-fifth of the population of children suffer from mental disorders, which is an alarming situation. The common cause of death among the aged children 15-24, and that is suicide. Around 18% of teens have self-injured in their lifetime. Many adolescents and teenagers are reluctant to ask for help or support.
Vanessa Simpson, Behavioral Health Manager at Children’s Health , said that teens confide in friends when experiencing mental health problems. Peers may notice the signs of a friend’s need for help through social media posts.
Parents should talk proactively with their children about mental illness. They must know what to do if a child or friend is experiencing anxiety and suicidal feelings.
What Are the Most Common Mental Disorders Among Teens?
Teens may experience mental disorders. Anxiety disorder is the common mental illness among teenagers which include anxiety, substance abuse disorders, ADHD, and eating disorders.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes mental disorders as a serious change in how someone behaves, learns, or manages their emotions. This could make it difficult to get through the day.
What Are the Signs that a Teenager Needs Help for a Mental Illness?
Multiple signs and symptoms may indicate that teens are having mental health trouble or experiencing suicidal feelings. Some of the most common signs that someone close to you may have a mental illness include:
- Threatening harm or death to themselves
- Writing or speaking about death
- Acting recklessly
- Withdrawing from other people
- Exhibiting dramatic mood changes
- Expression of hopelessness or a lack of reason to live
- Donating prized possessions
Asking your teen about their feelings is the best way to determine if they are exhibiting these symptoms. Let your teen know that it is okay to intervene if they see a friend displaying any of these symptoms.
How Can You Support a Friend Who Has a Mental Illness?
It is important that your child feels comfortable in telling their friend that they are worried and want to assist. Provide counseling to your teenager that it is not his responsibility to protect a friend. Even though they may be the ones to be concerned about a friend’s well-being, it is important to contact a trusted adult to get professional help.
Here are some ways teens can support a friend who has a mental illness:
- Support your friend by showing empathy for their situation.
- Asking direct questions can help you better understand their feelings. Openly discussing mental health issues, including suicide, with a friend can help them feel better.
- Tell your friend that recovery is possible. They can get help by talking to a trusted adult.
- Parents should talk to their teens about who they can contact to help friends with mental health issues. You can trust parents and school staff and counselors. Please provide encouragement to your child to seek support for their friend and not feel guilty about telling an adult.
- You can call 988 and reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. There is also a presence of Chat feature on this website. In case of an emergency, or if no trusted adult is available, you can call 9-1-1.
Few Words
Although mental health issues are common among teenagers, help is available, and recovery is possible. Children’s Health has one of the most comprehensive mental health programs for children and teenagers. Our experts can access the latest treatments and research for mood disorders and depression. Please find out more about our Pediatric Psychiatry & Psychology services. Virtual Visit Behavioral Health allows you to receive emotional support and care from the comfort of your home. Video technology allows you to speak with a licensed therapist or board-certified psychiatrist during a behavioral care appointment. Find out more about Virtual Behavioral Health.
