Tumultuous transitions can occur for teenagers and run the gamut from physical, emotional and hormonal changes to sexual, social and intellectual changes. One in five live with a mental health condition-half develop the condition by age 14, and three-quarters develop it by age 24.Īdolescence isn’t an easy time for parents, either.
Mental health conditions are common among teens and young adults. Suicide-related visits climbed more than two-fold during the study period. Visits spiked 54 percent for teens, 53 percent for African-American youth, and 91 percent for young Hispanic patients. There is a quiet crisis in our country, one that needs every parent’s attention.Īccording to a study led by Luther Kalb, PhD, a researcher at Kennedy Krieger Institute, psychiatric emergency department visits among youth ages 6 to 24 increased by 28 percent between 20. Adolescence is, indeed, a time of transition and change, but severe, dramatic or abrupt changes in behavior can be strong indicators of serious mental health issues.
