Signs of Mental Health Struggles in Children and Teens

Health and Wellness,Mental Health,Family Health

Signs of Mental Health Struggles in Children and Teens

02.04.2025 | 4 min read

Medically reviewed by Dr. William Beecroft, M.D.

Roughly half of all people who develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime begin experiencing symptoms in their mid-teens, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Societal pressures that include fitting in at school and dating for the first time, as well as academics and navigating family life, are factors that can take a toll on a person’s mental health from a very young age. Additionally, children and teenagers in today’s digital age face unique mental health challenges associated with social media overuse. Recognizing warning signs in your children can be potentially lifesaving.

Common mental health disorders among children

Here is a list of the most common mental health disorders among kids and teens, according to the Mayo Clinic:

Anxiety disorders
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Eating disorders
Depression and other mood disorders
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Schizophrenia

Common signs and indicators of mental health struggles in children

Bad days are normal for everyone, but your child may be struggling with their mental health if they begin failing to complete routine tasks. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), this can include difficulty participating in regular social activities with family and friends, academics and play/activities. Other common warning signs include:

Social withdrawal: If your child normally has a healthy social life but you notice them scale back their interest in interacting with others, this could indicate an underlying mental health issue. You may notice growing conflict between your child and their friends/peers, isolation and a general disinterest in activities they used to love.

Excessive worry or anxiety: Just like it’s typical to have a bad day from time to time, it’s typical to notice signs of worry in your children during stressful days. But when the amount of stress is out of proportion to the reality of risk, according to NAMI, it may be time to intervene, as a potential anxiety disorder could be developing.

Changes in school performance: If your child typically performs well at school and begins having prolonged difficulties, this could be a sign of a mental health issue.

Acute or prolonged stress: According to NAMI, a child who has been exposed to violence or experienced abuse or neglect at home will most likely experience acute or prolonged stress. This can lead to PTSD in some cases, and include symptoms like:

Disturbances in memory issues, such as flashbacks.
Recurrent thoughts of the trauma.
Emotional numbing, such as avoiding social and emotional contact with others.
The emergence of a hyper-state of arousal, like they might panic at any time.

Mood swings and frequent disobedience or aggression: Pay close attention if your child begins to have extreme mood swings and take note as to whether they are caused by some sort of conflict or develop cyclically. Understanding the origin of these mood swings can help a health care provider determine whether they are a sign of a mood disorder, trauma-related or just typical childhood growing pains.

Substance use: Some of your child’s changes in behavior may be tied to experimenting with substances like alcohol, marijuana, psychedelic drugs, prescription medications and others. Substance use may also extend to misuse of over-the-counter drugs or medications prescribed to other people in their life, according to NAMI. Substance use may lead to other warning signs mentioned here, such as a decline in school performance, a lack of interest in social activities they used to enjoy and isolation. You may also notice them engaging with new and different friend groups.

Discussing mental health with children and teens and knowing when to seek help

It can be extremely challenging when parents notice patterns of mental health symptoms in their child, but there is hope. Making time for regular chats in which you normalize and validate their feelings could lead to meaningful connection between you and your child.

Additionally, don’t be judgmental when they express an emotional difficulty to you, and don’t be afraid to discuss difficult topics. Talking about depression or suicide with your children might feel scary but being open and honest about mental health conditions can save lives. While there’s a perception that talking about suicide could lead to increased thoughts of suicide, research has shown that the opposite is true: talking about suicide can encourage those in danger to seek help. Adults should feel empowered to talk about their own mental health struggles with their children along with the coping mechanisms they use to maintain balance.

If parents or caregivers suspect a child needs help, talking to a primary care physician is a good first step. They can evaluate the child to determine if any physical issues could be contributing to poor mental health or recommend further treatment from a mental health provider. If there’s any immediate concern about suicide, adults should immediately seek help by calling or texting 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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