In today’s society, teenagers have an adequate amount of social pressure encompassing them. Being high-grade at their academics, doing admirably good in co-curricular activities, being raised on social charts at school and keeping up with their parent’s expectations are just a few things that add up to the tremendous measure of stress on their mental health.

Mental health is an individual’s emotional, psychological and social well-being. It composes of how we act, feel, respond and the kind of thoughts we have. The predicaments we have in our thoughts affect the way we interact with others, handle stress, make choices and almost every other aspect of our lives. 

Teenagers going through any difficulties in life such as academics pressures, family dilemmas, the recent death of a dear one, a victim of bullying or cyber violation may end up damaging their mental well-being. They may end up having disorders such as depression and anxiety and once they are in these conditions, it’s very challenging to get them out of it. 

Now comes the real question, ‘how do we recognise teenagers with mental disturbances and help them?’

Here are a few symptoms of depression and anxiety in teens: 

• Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Reduced appetite 
• weight loss
• Loss of pleasure and interest in activities once enjoyed 
• Restlessness or irritability
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
• Thoughts of suicide or death

Now, how do we help them: 

Usually, people suffering from such disorders do not ask for help from themselves. This may be out of shame or mostly thinking that nobody cares about their feelings. To make sure they do not feel this way, what we can do is:

1. Talk to them and let them know they aren’t alone. Make them feel that you are there for them, whatever happens, you won’t leave them broken and helpless. 
2. Identify why they are feeling this way and find a proper solution. 
3. Of course, we aren’t professionally trained to handle people with mental difficulties and so teens with mental disorders will need external help from a therapist. Even one or two sessions with a professional will help them get their hope back and start to heal them.
4. We can be a little more accepting of the people who go through such difficulties every day. They have lost the meaning for life and what we need to do is help them find one back. We can include them in social gatherings, get their interest back in the things they used to enjoy and be a little more helpful. Let’s be kind and help our friends,family and even acquaintances because life is difficult for all of us and the only choice we have is go through this difficult journey together.