Teen Mental Health Problems: What Are the Warning Signs?

Experiences big changes, for example:

• does much worse in school;
• loses interest in things usually enjoyed;
• has unexplained changes in sleeping or eating habits;
• avoids friends or family and wants to be alone all the time;
• daydreams too much and can't get things done;
• feels life is too hard to handle or talks about suicide;
• hears voices that cannot be explained.

Is limited by:

• poor concentration; can't make decisions;
• inability to sit still or focus attention;
• worry about being harmed, hurting others, or about doing something "bad";
• the need to wash, clean things, or perform certain routines dozens of times a day;
• thoughts that race almost too fast to follow;
• persistent nightmares.

Behaves in ways that cause problems, for-example:

• uses alcohol or other drugs;
• eats large amounts of food and then forces vomiting, abuses laxatives, or takes enemas to avoid weight-'gain;
• continues to diet or exercise obsessively although bone-thin;.
• often hurts other people, destroys property, or breaks the law;
• does things that can be life threatening.

To find help, discuss your concerns with your teen's teacher, school counselor or others such as a family doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, religious counselor or nurse.

Free information about children’s and adolescents' mental health is available through the CARING FOR EVERY CHILDS MENTAL HEALTH: Communities Together national public education campaign of the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Call SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center at 1-800-789-2647; (TDD) 866-889-2647.