May is Mental Health Awareness Month and National Adolescent Health Month, giving us the perfect opportunity to normalize conversations about adolescent mental health. Navigating emotions is often difficult for everyone, regardless of age. Children and adolescents, in particular, have less experience getting through new situations and handling the emotions that can accompany them. Young people may view sad thoughts as permanent instead of temporary, for example, and find it difficult to find a path forward.

No adult likes to think that the youth in their care may be experiencing emotional distress—or worse, contemplating self-harm.

Possible warning signs

Many potential warning signs of declining mental health in adolescents can be difficult for parents to recognize, as they can easily be mistaken for typical teen behaviors (i.e., mood shifts, irritability, etc.). But if adults notice more than one of the following signs in their adolescents (particularly if behaviors continue), it may be time to seek assistance:

• Difficulties in concentrating at home and in school
• Changes in habits, such as eating and sleeping
• Unusual bouts of anxiety, particularly if they interfere with daily activities like school or activities they typically enjoy
• Sudden and frequent physical complaints
• Signs of depression that don’t dissipate, particularly if accompanied by difficulties sleeping and no interest in food
• Acting out sexually
• Repeatedly using drugs and alcohol

Parents and caregivers should also pay attention to their teen’s social media habits. Social media platforms can establish and keep connections, particularly during the pandemic, but some worldwide studies suggest that prolonged social media use can lead to depression, unhealthy image comparisons, and being on the receiving end of cyberbullying.

Understanding mental health and mental disorders

It’s important to distinguish between mental health and a mental disorder:

• According to the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, mental health is “a state of successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to adapt to change and to cope with adversity. Mental health is indispensable to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and contribution to community or society.”
• A mental disorder, on the other hand, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association, is “a clinically significant behavioral or psychological syndrome or pattern that occurs in an individual and is associated with present distress (e.g., a painful symptom), disability (i.e., impairment in one or more important areas of functioning), or with a significantly increased risk of suffering death, pain, disability, or an important loss of freedom.”
• According to youth.gov, one out of four to five youth in the U.S. general population meets the criteria for a lifetime mental disorder.

Resources

Worrying about your adolescent’s mental health can seem overwhelming, but know that you are not alone and have support and tools available. Your child’s school is a good place to start; talk to the school counselor, or inquire whether the school offers more extensive school-based mental health services. Other parents prefer to speak to a trusted spiritual adviser or religious leader.

You also have a convenient place to turn in Transocean’s My Journey page, under the Healthy Mind section. Whether the assistance you need for your adolescent is urgent, or you’re just looking for guidance, your Healthy Mind benefits ensure you’re not on this journey alone:

• Suicide Prevention Hotline – 1-800-273-8255, a chat option, and an informative website.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services – 1-800-662-4357, and link to website.
• Behavioral In-Person and Virtual Visits – download the app here.
• Our digital platform, Talkspace, allows you to connect with one of over 5,000 behavioral health clinicians in the Talkspace network.

Your benefits also include a downloadable app, Sanvello, so you can help your teen manage the ups and downs of life’s challenges, with digital self-help support right at your fingertips. Read more about what Sanvello has to offer here.

Additionally, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) has several resources on its website for both adults and adolescents. Consider posting helpline numbers prominently in your home, and letting your adolescent know that it’s okay – and normal – to reach out to talk to someone anonymously if they feel alone or have questions about what they are feeling. Some good ones to start with include:

• www.crisistextline.org, or text “START” to 741-741
• www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• www.loveisrespect.org, or text “LOVEIS” to 22522, or1-866-331-9474 if a child is in an abusive relationship
• www.nationaleatingdisorders.org, or1-800-931-2237 if there are questions about eating disorders