It's Time to Talk About Mental Health

Depression and Other Mental Health Issues Affect 1 in 5 Teens

You Are Not Alone – And You Can Get Support

Talk to Someone
A young person with short dark hair, wearing a V-neck T-shirt and a wristwatch, looks at the camera with a neutral expression while holding their left arm. The image is in black and white.

TOGETHER, WE CAN CREATE A COMMUNITY IN WHICH IT’S NORMAL TO TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH

If you think you might be experiencing depression or another mental health problem, you CAN and SHOULD talk to someone.

As a community, we should be aware of what our teens are going through, how to spot the signs of depression and other mental health issues, and how to help teens seek the support they need.

Four teens with backpacks stand arm in arm, facing away. Text over the image reads: 1 in 5 Teens Will Experience a Mental Health Issue. The image is tinted green.

The Signs Are Not Always Obvious

Depression and other mental health issues can manifest themselves in many forms – there is no “one size fits all” version. Depressed teens may not seem or act sad. They may keep up some friendships while dropping others. However, there are some common signs associated with teen depression and other mental health issues, including:

  • Irritability and anger.
  • Unexplained aches and pains.
  • Extreme sensitivity to criticism.
  • Withdrawal from some social circles.
  • Loss of interest in hobbies and other activities.
  • Poor school performance.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Restlessness or fatigue.
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
  • Talk of death or suicide.

How to Tell Whether It’s REALLY Depression

Sometimes, it’s tempting to chalk teens’ mental health problems up to hormones or temporary stress. However, if your friend, child, or loved one has been experiencing symptoms of depression (or other issues) for a prolonged period, they likely need help.

If a teen shows continuous or severe signs of depression, you should encourage them to speak to a medical provider immediately.

Download the Suicide Prevention Card

Join Us in Breaking the Stigma

We encourage you to share the videos above, to show your support and help us #BreakTheStigma surrounding mental health.

How You Can Help

Connect – Encourage – Persist

Illustration of two people outlined in green next to the word CONNECT in bold black letters, with a slight break in the middle of the word.

First, CONNECT with your friend, child, or loved one. Start by stating the behaviors you’ve seen, without judgment. Then, listen to their response. From there, begin exploring why the person is behaving the way they are.

Be sure not to minimize the person’s feelings or tell them what to do. Do not get angry or overly emotional. At this point, all you should do is listen attentively, respond, and explore the person’s emotional state.

A green outline of two hands holding a heart is next to the word ENCOURAGE, which is written in bold black letters with a diagonal line cutting through the text.

Then, if you’ve determined the teen is likely experiencing a mental health issue, ENCOURAGE them to seek professional help.

It is not abnormal to need help – 1 in 5 teens experience mental health issues. You can normalize your friend, child, or loved one’s problem, help them schedule an appointment with a Behavioral Health provider, and make sure they attend the appointment.

If your teen is experiencing severe mental health issues (including thoughts of injuring themselves or others), be sure to seek assistance immediately. Either call 1-800-273-TALK, go to your local emergency room, or call 911.

A simple green line drawing of two people hugging appears next to the word PERSIST, which is written in bold black letters with a crack running through each letter.

Finally, PERSIST in normalizing conversations about mental health – and reinforcing help-seeking behaviors.

If your friend sits you down for a second conversation about their mental state, be attentive (while also taking care of yourself). If your child asks you to schedule a follow-up appointment with their medical provider, do so. And if your friend, child, or loved one continues not to recognize that they may have a problem – talk to them again (and tell someone else if necessary).

You can also continue educating yourself and your peers on the topic of mental health. Below, we’ve gathered some additional resources that might help you discuss teen mental health.

Need More Resources?

First, we recommend you connect with a Camarena Health Behavioral Health provider, who can teach you how to have conversations about mental health.

Connect with a Provider

Then, we’d encourage you to check out some of these other helpful resources:

HelpGuide logo with the word Help in blue and Guide in teal, displayed on a light background.
Mental Health America logo with the letters MHA in blue, an orange swoosh crossing through them, and the words Mental Health America below.
The image shows the Active Minds logo with active in light green and minds in dark blue. Two overlapping circles, one green and one blue, form the o between the words.
NAMI logo featuring a stylized blue graphic and bold text reading “NAMI” with “National Alliance on Mental Illness” written underneath.
Logo with HHS.gov in orange and gray text next to a blue stylized image of three human profiles and a bird, representing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Colorful overlapping star shapes with the words teen mental health in white lowercase letters and org in black lowercase letters, representing the Teen Mental Health organization logo.
Logo with a turquoise chat bubble containing a stylized white brain, next to the word TEAM. in capital turquoise letters on a light background.

Remember, You Are Not Alone

Start the conversation. To speak with a Behavioral Health Specialist, please fill out the below form.

Camarena Health – 559-664-4000

For Emergencies Contact 911 or the National Crisis Line 800-273-8255

A young person with short dark hair, wearing a V-neck T-shirt and a wristwatch, looks at the camera with a neutral expression while holding their left arm. The image is in black and white.