Young people are the future of our society and the ‘building blocks’ of our communities and yet their physical and mental health needs are often overlooked.
Although there are many difficulties associated with this period, it’s sometimes best not to pass things off as ‘just a teenage thing’.
Changes may be a red flag and just the tip of the iceberg of a number of more serious issues.
When it comes to teenage behaviour, how do we know what’s normal and what’s not?
Things to look out for include:
- headaches
- social withdrawal
- avoidance behaviour, including non-attendance at school or retreating from activities that used to interest them
- sudden changes in behaviour or behaviour that is out of character
- sleeplessness
- saying they think they are depressed.
Remember every person is different and these issues, even if they seem minor, shouldn’t be dismissed.
The difference between adults and teenagers
The way adolescents cope with things in their lives can be so intense because they are new experiences that they haven’t ever dealt with.
When you’re an adult, you have experience to draw on but for a teenager, the breakup of a relationship, parents splitting up or issues with friends can seem so enormous that they’re not able to cope with them alone.
Teenagers can really benefit from their parents and other families being involved in their health. Getting to know your child will enable you to spot changes and get help before things get serious.
What to do if you think your child needs help
An initial adolescent health screen by a GP who has experience in it will indicate the need for referral for further thorough assessment by an expert adolescent health practitioner.
This will help us understand the full picture of what’s going on and ascertain if the issues are clinical or psychological in origin.
We can then decide on a course of action to help your child get back on track.
If you think your teenager needs help, getting him or her assessed by a GP initially who can organise relevant referral to a paediatrician with experience in adolescent medicine, for further evaluation.
If a mental health issue is identified, a referral to psychologist for further evaluation can be organised.
