Being a teenager is hard. You're under stress to be liked, do well in school, get along with your family and make big decisions. You can't avoid most of these pressures, and worrying about them is normal. But feeling very sad, hopeless or worthless could be warning signs of a mental health problem.
Mental health problems are real, painful and sometimes severe. You might need help if you have the signs mentioned above, or if you
- Often feel very angry or very worried
- Feel grief for a long time after a loss or death
- Think your mind is controlled or out of control
- Use alcohol or drugs
- Exercise, diet and/or binge-eat obsessively
- Hurt other people or destroy property
- Do reckless things that could harm you or others
Mental health problems can be treated. To find help, talk to your parents, school counselor or health care provider.
National Mental Health Information Center
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/CA-0004/default.asp
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Understanding Your Teenager's Emotional Health(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/parents-teens/590.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/parents-teens/590.printerview.html
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health
(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health/index.shtml
- Cannabis Linked to Earlier Psychosis Onset(09/10/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69107.html
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Effective for Treating Trauma Symptoms in Children and Teens(09/09/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r080909.htm
- Youth Suicides Continue to Rise in U.S.(09/02/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68819.html
- Most Youths Tried As Adults Had Psychiatric Disorders(08/29/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68724.html
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Comprehensive+Psychiatric+Evaluation§ion=Facts+for+Families
- Teen Mental Health Problems: What Are the Warning Signs(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0023/default.asp
- 11 Questions to Ask Before Psychiatric Hospitalization of Your Child or Adolescent(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=11+Questions+To+Ask+Before+Psychiatric+Hospitalization+Of+Your+Child+Or+Adolescent§ion=Facts+for+Families
- Antidepressants for Children: Explore the Pros and Cons(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/antidepressants/MH00059/METHOD=print
- Continuum of Care for Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=The+Continuum+Of+Care+For+Children+And+Adolescents§ion=Facts+for+Families
- Going to a Therapist(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/therapist.html
- How Can I Stop Cutting?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/resisting_cutting.html
- Mental Health Provider Degrees and Certifications(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mental-health/MH00077/METHOD=print
- Psychiatric Medications for Children and Adolescents Part III: Questions to Ask(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychiatric+Medication+For+Children+And+Adolescents+Part+III%3A+Questions+To+Ask§ion=Facts+for+Families
- Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Psychotherapies+For+Children+And+Adolescents§ion=Facts+for+Families
- Questions and Answers on Antidepressant Use in Children, Adolescents, and Adults(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/antidepressants/QA20070502.htm
- Coping with Cliques(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/cliques.html
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Dealing with a Health Condition(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/deal_chronic_illness.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/deal_chronic_illness_esp.html
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Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters: What Parents Can Do(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/helping-children-and-adolescents-cope-with-violence-and-disasters-what-parents-can-do.shtml
- Helping Your Children Navigate Their Teenage Years: A Guide for Parents(White House Council on Youth Violence) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SVP-0013/default.asp
- Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - Links to PDF - http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/age_related_reactions.pdf
- Anxiety Disorders(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/anxiety.html
- Bipolar Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/bipolar.html
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Body Image and Self-Esteem(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/body_image/body_image.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/body_image_esp.html
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Cutting(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/cutting.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/cutting_esp.html
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Depression(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/depression.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/depression_esp.html
- Fears and Phobias(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/phobias.html
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Let’s Talk Facts about Teen Suicide(American Psychiatric Association) - Links to PDF - http://healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-TeenSuicide.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://healthyminds.org/multimedia/teensuicideespanol.pdf
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/ocd.html
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/ptsd.html
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Seasonal Affective Disorder(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/sad.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/sad_esp.html
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Social Phobia(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/social_phobia.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/social_phobia_esp.html
- Trichotillomania(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/trichotillomania.html
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Understanding Child Traumatic Stress(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - http://www.nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=ctr_aud_prnt_under
Also available in Spanish http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/edu_materials/Entendamoselestrtraumtico.pdf
- BAM! Guide to Getting Along(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bam.gov/sub_yourlife/yourlife_conflict.html
- Common Questions about Child and Teen Mental Health(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/expertopinion20.cfm
- Homesickness(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/homesickness.html
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How Can I Deal with My Anger(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/deal_with_anger.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/deal_with_anger_esp.html
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How Can I Help a Friend Who Cuts?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/problems/friend_cuts.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/friend_cuts_esp.html
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Partnering with Your Child's School: A Guide for Parents(HSC Foundation) - Links to PDF - http://www.hscfoundation.org/aboutus/publications/partnering_with_schools_english_guide.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.hscfoundation.org/aboutus/publications/partnering_with_schools_spanish_guide.pdf
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Peer Pressure(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/peer_pressure.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/peer_pressure_esp.html
- Talking to Kids about Mental Illnesses(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Talking+To+Kids+About+Mental+Illnesses§ion=Facts+for+Families
- When Your Child Needs Substance Abuse Treatment(Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) - http://www.family.samhsa.gov/get/treatment.aspx
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Why Am I in Such a Bad Mood?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/bad_mood.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/mente/bad_mood_esp.html
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Adolescent Psychiatry(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Adolescent+Psychiatry%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Teen Mental Health(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=%22mental+health%22+AND+%28teen+OR+adolescents%29
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Clues to Role of Brain Development as Risk for Mental Disorders May Also Lead to Better Treatments(National Institute of Mental Health) - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/clues-to-role-of-brain-development-as-risk-for-mental-disorders-may-also-lead-to-better-treatments.shtml
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Medical and mental health of children entering the utah foster... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18762506&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Self-rated mental health and racial/ethnic disparities in mental health service... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18725845&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Comparison of mental health between former child soldiers and children... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18698067&tool=MedlinePlus
- Teen Mental Health -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=mental+health[majr]+AND+adolescent[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Teen mental health problems -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(adolescent+behavior/psychology[majr]+NOT+(eating+disorders[majr]+OR+obesity[majr]))+OR+(mental+disorders[majr:noexp]+AND+adolescent[mh])+AND+english[la]+AND+(guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Symptoms & Mental Illnesses Affecting Teenagers(American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - http://www.aacap.org/page.ww?section=Resources+for+Families&name=Glossary+of+Symptoms+and+Mental+Illnesses+Affecting+Teenagers
- Glossary of Terms: Child and Adolescent Mental Health(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/Ca-0005/default.asp
- Help for Families: A Directory of Advocacy and Support Groups for Youth with Emotional, Developmental and Behavioral Disorders(American Psychiatric Association) - http://healthyminds.org/helpforfamilies.cfm
- Mental Health Services Locator(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - http://www.aacap.org/
- Center for Mental Health Services - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/
- KidsHealth(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/index_noflash.html
- Mental Health America - http://www.nmha.org/
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National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
- Use of Mental Health Services in the Past 12 Months by Children Aged 4-17 Years: 2005-2006(National Center for Health Statistics) - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db08.htm
- What a Difference a Friend Makes: Social Acceptance Is Key to Mental Health Recovery(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA07-4257/default.asp
- Guy's Guide to Body Image(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/beautiful/male_bodyimage.html
- Alcohol and Youth - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alcoholandyouth.html
- Bullying - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bullying.html
- Child Mental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childmentalhealth.html
- Mental Health - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealth.html
- Teen Violence - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/teenviolence.html
- Children and Teenagers - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childrenandteenagers.html
- Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Teen Mental Health is the National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/