How do we spot mental ill-health in our teenagers? (From Linda Stade)

The following are potential ‘red flags’ that parents and teachers should keep an eye out for:

1.     Your child is really down on themselves

2.     They pull away from parents AND friends. Recognise that it is normal for teens to pull away from their parents to a degree and focus more on peers. The real concern is when they pull away from both.

3.     There are changes in sleep patterns and appetite.

4.     They pull away from activities they previously were enthusiastic about or really loved.

5.     Trouble concentrating on schoolwork and homework when that wasn’t previously the case.

6.     They engage in risky behaviour which is out of character.

7.     More emotional than usual and the waves of emotion seem to be bigger than usual.

It is important that we constantly maintain and build connection with our kids. If there is connection, they are more likely to share with us when they are struggling. We also need to genuinely put the invitation out there for them to speak to us about how they are. We should be doing that every few days if there are initial concerns.