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Summary
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
- Feel depressed (sad and hopeless)
Mental health problems can be treated. To find help, talk to your parents, school counselor, or health care provider.
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Emotional Health (For Young Men) (Children's Hospital Boston)
- How to Live a Happy Life (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Mental Health Conditions (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
- Understanding Your Teen's Emotional Health (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish
- Mental Health and Teens: Watch for Danger Signs (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
-
Mental Health Screening
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- 11 Questions to Ask Before Psychiatric Hospitalization of Your Child or Adolescent (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) - PDF Also in Spanish
- Antidepressants for Children and Teens (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Going to a Therapist (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
-
Mental Health Medications
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish
- Residential Treatment Programs (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
Related Issues
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Co-Occurring Conditions
(National Institute on Drug Abuse)
- COVID-19: Support For Teens and Young Adults (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- Dealing with a Health Condition (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
-
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Disasters and Other Traumatic Events: What Parents, Rescue Workers, and the Community Can Do
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Also in Spanish
- How Can I Deal with My Anger (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- How Can I Help a Friend Who Cuts? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
-
I'm So Stressed Out! Facts about Stress and Anxiety
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Also in Spanish
- Partnering with Your Child's School: A Guide for Parents (HSC Foundation) - PDF
- Teens and Stress: Who Has Time for It? (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
-
The Teen Brain: 7 Things to Know
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Also in Spanish
- Why Am I in Such a Bad Mood? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Your Feelings (Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health)
Specifics
- 3 Ways to Increase Positive Emotions (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- About Stressful Situations (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- About Teen Suicide (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Anxiety Disorders (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
-
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Also in Spanish
-
Bipolar Disorder in Teens and Young Adults: Know the Signs
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- PDF
Also in Spanish
- Body Image and Self-Esteem (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Depression (For Teens) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
-
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
(National Institute of Mental Health)
- Fears and Phobias (Nemours Foundation)
- Guy's Guide to Body Image (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- How Can I Stop Cutting? (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Nemours Foundation)
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Nemours Foundation)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder: For Teens (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Self-Injury in Adolescents (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry) Also in Spanish
- Social Phobia (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Teen Suicide (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Trichotillomania (Nemours Foundation)
Health Check Tools
- How's Your Self-Esteem? (Quiz) (Nemours Foundation)
Statistics and Research
- Children's Mental Health: Data & Statistics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Combinations of Types of Mental Health Services Received in the Past Year Among Young Adults (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
-
Therapy Reduces Risk in Suicidal Youth
(National Institute of Mental Health)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Teen Mental Health
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- KidsHealth (Nemours Foundation)
-
National Institute of Mental Health
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Also in Spanish
- Psychologist Locator (American Psychological Association)
Teenagers
- Teen Suicide (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Help your teen cope with stress (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Helping your teen with depression (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Managing your depression - teens (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Recognizing teen depression (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish