Recognizing Early Signs of Mental Health Disorders in Kids and Teens
By: Stephen Carmel, Founder and CEO, California Prime Recovery
As medical practitioners will tell you, certain physical ailments, like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, are best caught early. This is because the medical community has developed treatments that work best during the early stages of illness, according to Harvard Medical School. Similarly, obtaining an early diagnosis is crucial when it comes to anxiety, mood, attention, and behavior disorders in kids.
According to the 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, published by the National Institutes of Health, nearly 20 percent of children and young people ages 3 to 17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. Moreover, suicidal behaviors among high school students increased more than 40 percent in the decade before 2019.
These astonishing statistics make it abundantly clear that our kids need help, and that we should remain vigilant when it comes to signs of mental disorders. To be sure, we have made amazing strides in normalizing conversations surrounding mental health. However, not everyone is comfortable having these discussions. I’ve especially found that kids and teens can have a particularly hard time communicating what they’re feeling. And to make matters more difficult, parents often don’t receive the education they need to identify signs of these disorders.
As the founder and CEO of California Prime Recovery, an addiction and mental health treatment facility, I’ve learned to see these signs early on. Because of that, we’ve been able to treat myriad disorders in patients successfully and with compassion. Below, I share why it’s integral to identify signs early on and what those signs may be.
Why Early Detection Matters So Much
What makes early detection especially important is not just the diagnosis itself, but everything it opens the door to afterward, appropriate treatment, family support, and a clearer path forward before patterns become deeply entrenched. A disorder caught early is often far more manageable than one that has had years to shape a child’s relationships, self image, and daily functioning.
Left undiagnosed and, thus, untreated, mental disorders can cause children to have problems at home, in school, and in forming friendships. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this may also interfere with children’s healthy development and continue into adulthood. On the other hand, when we do offer early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, children can experience less stress and an easier path to recovery.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse found an undeniable connection between substance use disorders and mental illness. Data show high rates of comorbid substance use disorders alongside anxiety disorders, depression and bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychotic illness, borderline personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Additionally, patients with schizophrenia have higher rates of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use disorders than the general population.
And at a time when fentanyl, a synthetic opioid prescribed for severe pain, is taking the lives of adults and children alike, we must be extra cautious in looking after our children. This importantly includes keeping our eyes open for signs of mental disorders.
In Georgetown, Texas, specialized centers provide comprehensive care tailored specifically to women facing complex mental health conditions. Comprehensive options at The Chalet at Alta Loma offer structured support to help residents rebuild independence and emotional stability. These dedicated environments empower women to develop practical skills for long term recovery.
Signs of Disorders in Teens
Before we even get into that, though, it’s important that parents know how to approach their child if they spot these signs. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with our child if they have a mental disorder. They are not inferior. We should not fear seeking help.
At the end of the day, as parents, don’t we want what’s best for our kids? We can make those decisions as more informed parents when we know the type of support our children need.
Of course, there’s no one telltale sign that your teen may have a mental disorder. However, I’ve learned that there are a handful of things worth looking into with the most common disorders.
1. Bipolar Disorder
The National Institute of Mental Health defines bipolar disorder as a mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and day to day functioning. Those can be signs in and of themselves. Other signs, during depressive episodes, may include trouble with close relationships, sleep problems, and changes in appetite. During manic episodes, kids may change topics a lot or display extremely poor judgment.
2. Depression
Depression in teens and adults is similar. If your child is struggling with depression, they might be feeling hopeless, irritable, and experiencing a loss of joy in usual activities. They may also experience a loss of interest in, or conflict with, family and friends.
3. AD/HD
In the early literature, experts listed these as AD/HD symptoms: constantly fidgeting, lack of focus, excessive physical movement, and impulsivity. That’s true, for young boys. As we’ve recently learned, though, AD/HD has been severely underdiagnosed in young girls because their symptoms present differently. Instead of being impulsive or interrupting, girls with AD/HD tend to daydream, shift focus from one activity to another, and be highly sensitive to noise, fabrics, and emotions.
While these three disorders are the ones we see most, there are others that might affect your teen, including anxiety and eating disorders. To educate yourself on what those are and what their symptoms might look like, visit Mental Health for Adolescents.
