Teen Mental Health

Teen mental health support is an essential aspect of ensuring overall wellness. For many troubled teens, a mental health challenge is what lies at the heart of maladaptive or high-risk behaviors. To be able to achieve improvement in behaviors, it is essential to first heal the underlying mental health disorder.

Teen Mental Health Conditions Treated

Today’s teens may face certain challenges that overwhelm their ability to cope. A mental health disorder can cause disruption and impairment in a teen’s daily functioning. Some of the most common mental health conditions among teens include:

Anxiety
Anxiety disorder features excessive and irrational feelings of worry, dread, and fear. There are several types of anxiety disorder, with each having unique characteristics.
Depression
Depression features a persistent state of sadness and despair. This manifests itself with symptoms of irritability, hopelessness, loss of interest, weight changes, fatigue, changes in sleep habits, difficulty concentrating, angry outbursts, and thoughts of suicide.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Teens with OCD experience obsessive thoughts (fears) coupled with compulsive rituals (attempts to reduce fear).
Borderline Personality Disorder
Teens with BPD tend to struggle socially because of unpredictable and compulsive behaviors. BPD features exaggerated emotional outbursts and frequent mood swings.
Bipolar Disorder
Teens with bipolar disorder experience extreme mood shifts between mania and depression. Bipolar disorder can lead to substance abuse and high-risk behaviors.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Teens with ODD are argumentative and noncompliant. ODD features chronic aggression, angry outbursts, failure to follow instructions or abide by rules, and blaming others for their mistakes.

Teen Mental Health Treatment Levels of Care

Once the teen completes a thorough psychological evaluation, the clinical team can then properly diagnose his or her condition, and plan a customized treatment strategy. One of the first items to consider is the appropriate level of care. The options include:

Outpatient treatment
With the outpatient treatment option, the teen is able to continue residing at home while enrolled in treatment. Outpatient treatment is available in two levels of care. The intensive outpatient program (IOP) requires the teen to participate in about nine hours of treatment activities per week, and the partial hospitalization program (PHP) requires about thirty hours of treatment per week.
Residential treatment
For teens with more severe mental health challenges, a residential treatment setting is recommended. The teen resides at the treatment center for the duration of the treatment period, where he or she will have round-the-clock support. A daily schedule of a broad range of therapeutic activities keeps the teen engaged in the treatment process. The teen will receive ongoing academic support during their stay as well.

Teen Mental Health Treatment Elements

Treatment interventions include:

Acute stabilization
A teen in crisis may require immediate intervention. The psychiatric team provides acute stabilization support and care.
Individual therapy
Weekly therapy sessions with a psychotherapist provide an opportunity for the teen to discuss their concerns within a safe, supportive environment.
Family therapy
To help parents and teens strengthen their connection, family therapy is a central focus of the residential program.
Group therapy
Teen group therapy involves small peer group meetings to discuss topics related to mental health and recovery.
Academic support
Academic support assures the teen will not fall behind their peers at school.
Holistic and experiential
Teens are receptive to activities that engage them physically as well as mentally.

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Teen Mental Health

Teen Mental Health Conditions Treated

Teen Mental Health Treatment Levels of Care

Teen Mental Health Treatment Elements

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