Understanding teenager’s sudden emotional ups and downs can be challenging for parents. While some see it as a part of growing up, others may not realize that these shifts can signal something deeper.
It’s important to know that teens are highly vulnerable to developing mental health struggles. Not everyone may understand or accept this, but it’s something that deserves attention– especially from parents.
So, if you’re a parent struggling to understand your teen’s behavior and you want to be there for your child, this article will guide you through.
Understanding the state of Teen Mental Health in the Philippines
Before exploring the ways on how to help your teen manage their personal struggles, let’s first take a look as to why mental health issues are becoming rampant in the Philippines.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the recorded cases of depression and anxiety among adolescents have significantly increased, becoming one of the leading causes of illness & disability, according to the World Health Organization. In severe cases, these conditions have even led to self-harm.
Moreover, the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute revealed that among the Filipino youth, 62% of those who had thoughts of self-harm or attempted suicide did not seek professional help. This is particularly concerning given the limited number of registered mental health professionals in the Philippines compared to other countries.
Some of the main factors as to why teens often develop these struggles include not being able to express their emotions and thoughts freely, being bullied, academic pressure, discrimination, being discouraged by their loved ones, and not feeling supported.
Warning signs of mental health struggles in teens that parents’ should watch out for:
As a parent, you might be wondering whether your teen’s experiencing a mild or a severe mental health problem. Below are the list of warning signs that your teen might unintentionally show:
Note: Despite having these categories, it’s important to remember that mental health still matters and must be taken seriously, no matter how mild or severe they can be.
Watch out for these signs!
Early Signs:
- Changes in Sleeping Patterns – Most teens experience trouble sleeping as different thoughts tend to linger in their minds at night.
- Mood Swings – This is one of the common signs of mental health problems: a rapid shift in emotions even without obvious reasons. This includes being irritated easily. So, if you notice your teen’s getting mad for little to no reason at all, consider checking up on them.
- Change in Appetite – Some eat more than the usual, and others eat less than their normal meal size that sometimes, even their most favorite dish is left untouched.
- Social Isolation – They may not be as interested as before to socialize with others, and become stuck in the same room with the same routine. This includes not hanging out with their friends as often as before.
- Lack of Energy – Your artistic and lively teen might suddenly appear tired all the time even without being physically active. Try to observe some physical changes that can’t hide their current struggles.
Severe Signs:
- Feeling Hopeless – There might be some changes in your teen’s optimism that you shouldn’t ignore. An academic achiever may suddenly become too overwhelmed with work to the point where they’re starting to feel like not wanting to live.
- Substance Abuse – Using drugs and other substances as coping mechanisms. If your non-alcoholic teen suddenly sees liquor as a way to avoid certain feelings, save them from this addiction and abuse as soon as possible.
- Self-Injuring – Coping with emotional pain through harmful ways such as skin cutting or burning. Beware of a sudden change in outfits styles: if your teen constantly wears long sleeves even in the heat of the sun, there might be something that they’re trying to hide.
- Hallucinating – Try to observe if your teen tends to often speak to themselves or worse, getting anxious about something that they can see or hear that’s not actually happening.
- Talking Suicidal Thoughts – Some keep it within themselves but there are people who tend to give verbal signs of their suicidal thoughts usually in a form of jokes. Take everything seriously, even the funny stuff as something might be hidden behind those words.
Steps to take if you suspect your teen is struggling mentally:
If you observe most of the signs presented above, it’s necessary to take immediate and actionable steps to still prevent worsening the situation and to still be able to help your teen get through this without facing it alone.
#1: Make them feel loved and supported
- Always make sure that you’re not just there as their parent but as their friend and someone that they can run into once things get too heavy to handle. Phrases like “You’re doing good!” and “I love you and I care for you” can make a huge difference in your teen’s perspective.
#2: Listen and pay attention to them
- Listen to understand, don’t just listen to answer. Make some time for your child’s interests and make sure they feel your presence especially when they’re feeling down. Try to have a conversation with them after their class and ask them as to how their day went.
#3: Talk openly about mental health struggles
- You can start by sharing your own personal experiences so that your child knows that it’s not just them who’s experiencing such emotions and problems, but don’t overshare especially in terms of how you coped up with it as it might discourage them and they may start to think that it’s just all about you.
#4: Give them time to process everything
- Be there for them but also give them the space that they need. Don’t force them to be open about their problems especially if you feel like they’re not yet ready to talk about it. Be gentle and talk to them with the utmost care. Words like, “It’s okay, you can tell me some other time.” might help.
#5: Understand their emotional development
- Remember that being ‘totally okay’ doesn’t happen in one day. There are days where their emotional development appears to improve, but there are also silent days, and that’s normal. Don’t expect that just because you get to talk to them about their struggles last night, they’re already fine in the morning– that’s not how it works.
#6: Take care of yourself
- To be able to stay committed in taking care of your struggling teen, prioritize your health and well-being too! Make sure you’re getting enough energy and you have all the needed patience and positive outlook in life. You can do things that bring you comfort, relaxation, and happiness. You can’t both drown in negativities, so make sure that you’re still making an effort treating yourself. You can do weekly yoga, drink tea, read books, or watch a movie– anything to keep you motivated and in full energy. Remember, you can’t offer help if you yourself need some help.
Let Milestone Health & Wellness help you
In addressing your teen’s mental health issues, it’s necessary to get professional help. Milestone Health & Wellness is a center in the Philippines that can provide you with the utmost assistance and support that both you and your teen needs.
Our team is dedicated to meet and prioritize your needs because we seriously address all mental health issues as we deeply care for our clients.
Contact us today!