The Whitsdom Press

Tag: teen mental health

  • How to Support Your Teen’s Mental Health

    Keep in mind that I am not a licensed counselor or therapist. I am writing from my experience working with teenagers in schools in low-socioeconomic areas and as a parent.

    As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want them to be happy, healthy, and successful. But in today’s world, where technology, school pressure, and global issues are constantly changing, it can be hard to know how to support your teen’s mental health.

    In 2025, many teens are still feeling the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with new challenges like social media pressure, school violence concerns, climate anxiety, and the rising cost of living that affects families. Recent reports show that teen depression and anxiety remain higher than before 2020, and many young people say they feel stressed, isolated, or overwhelmed. These struggles can put teens at risk for more serious problems if they don’t have the right support.

    📊 2025 Teen Mental Health: What the Data Shows

    United States (CDC & national surveys)

    • In 2023, 40% of high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
    • 20% of students seriously considered attempting suicide, and nearly 9% attempted suicide within the past year
    • Over 20% of adolescents (ages 12–17) received mental health therapy, but the same share reported unmet mental health care needs in 2021–2023
    • Just 55% of teens always or usually receive the social and emotional support they need

    Trends & disparities:

    • Female and LGBTQ+ youth report higher rates of emotional distress than their male, cisgender, heterosexual peers
    • Among teens (12–17), approximately 19.7% reported symptoms of anxiety and 17.8% reported symptoms of depression during the past two weeks (2021–2023)

    Emerging Pressures (Social Media, Loneliness, Climate)

    • A April 2025 Pew survey showed 44% of parents cited social media as the most harmful factor to teen mental health; 48% of teens say social media mostly negatively affects their peers; 45% admit spending too much time online, especially girls, who report negative effects on confidence and sleep
    • According to a September 2025 survey by Hopelab/Data for Progress, 61% of youth aged 13–24 say loneliness affects their mental health; 35% say it disrupts daily life; and 25% of those in school believe their schools lack adequate mental health support
    • The Lancet Commission (May 2025) warns that economic, social, and environmental pressures—including climate anxiety—are creating a “perfect storm” for adolescent mental health decline globally

    I put together this post with tips on how to help your teen’s mental health in 2025. Whether they’re dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or simply the ups and downs of growing up, these steps can make a difference.

    Tip #1: Listen without judging

    Teens often feel like their parents don’t “get it.” One of the best ways to support them is to listen with patience and without judgment. Try not to interrupt, criticize, or immediately give advice unless they ask for it. Instead, use active listening: nod, ask open-ended questions, and repeat back what you hear. For example, “It sounds like school has been overwhelming lately” or “I can see you’re really frustrated about that.”

    When your teen feels truly heard, they are more likely to open up and trust you with their feelings.

    Tip #2: Encourage healthy habits

    Healthy routines are a powerful tool for mental health. Encourage your teen to:

    • Get enough sleep
    • Eat balanced meals
    • Exercise regularly
    • Limit screen time when possible
    • Stay hydrated
    • Avoid drugs and alcohol
    • Hang with the RIGHT people

    You can model these habits by doing them as a family—like cooking healthy meals together, going for walks, or setting a “no phones at dinner” rule. Positive habits help teens manage stress, improve mood, and build confidence.

    Tip #3: Help them find professional help if needed

    Sometimes your teen may need more than family support. If you notice signs of depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, or talk of suicide, it’s important to connect them with a professional. This could be a therapist, counselor, or doctor who understands teen mental health.

    Remind your teen that asking for help is not weakness—it’s courage. Offer to help them research options or go with them to their first appointment. The earlier they get support, the better their chances of recovery and growth.

    Final Thoughts

    Parenting a teen in 2025 isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most important jobs you’ll ever have. By listening without judgment, encouraging healthy habits, and seeking professional help when necessary, you can show your child that you are always in their corner.

  • From Likes to Legacy: Teaching Teens About Digital Footprints

    Talking to teens about social media responsibility and digital footprinting is crucial in today’s digital age. As parents, grandparents, and caregivers, we play a vital role in guiding our teens toward safe and responsible online behavior. Let’s break it down into actionable steps:

    1. Understand the Landscape

    Before diving into conversations with your teens, it’s essential to grasp the social media landscape. Acknowledge that social media is an integral part of their lives, and it’s here to stay. Here are some key points:

    • Benefits and Risks: Social media offers both benefits and risks. While it connects people, provides information, and fosters creativity, it can also lead to mental health issues, cyberbullying, and privacy concerns.

    2. Open Dialogue

    Keep communication channels open with your teens. Regularly discuss social media and technology. Here’s how:

    • Current Events and Trends: Use current events as conversation starters. If you come across a new social media trend or challenge, ask your teen to explain it. Discuss how their digital presence can impact their future goals.  

    3. Set Guidelines

    Establish clear guidelines for social media use. Consider the following:

    • Time Limits: Limit the amount of time your teen spends on social media. Encourage breaks and offline activities. For example, once your teen come homes from school, a good schedule would be homework, chores, family time, chill time (social media, gaming, etc.) Also consider other methods to replace social media, such as video gaming, or a fun and mentally-healthy app on the VR headset (for those who have them.) Outside of tech, there’s reading time and outdoor time.
    • Device-Free Bedrooms: Remove devices from their bedrooms at night to promote healthy sleep habits. When it is my daughter’s bedtime, I take away the tablet and remove the gaming controller in her room. We call it “tech down time.”
    • Behavior Monitoring: Pay attention and be vigilant for problematic behaviors, such as excessive cravings for social media, compulsively wanting to their electronic versus dealing with everyday needs like eating, inability to stop, and dishonesty.

    4. Teach Digital Footprinting

    Help your teens understand their digital footprint—the trail of information they leave online. Here’s how:

    • Permanent Record: Explain that what they post online stays forever. Colleges, employers, and others may view their profiles. As a former College Access Counselor at a high school I had to host a seminar to my juniors about how their social media profiles could possibly affect their college admissions and scholarship acceptances, even if the profile is private. In 2020, a few graduating high school seniors lost their college admissions acceptances into amazing colleges like Cornell and Marquette because of their racial slurs made on social media.
    • Think Before Posting: Encourage critical thinking. Teenagers (and adults) should always think before sharing anything, “Would I want this to be part of my permanent record?” or “Would I be proud of this 10 years later?” There have been many people who became popular over the years, and due to the change of the culture, old tweets could be found offensive. For example, Tiktok chef/influencer turned Harris County (Houston) prosecutor, Waymond Wesley/Chef Way was in hot water a few years ago for old tweets resurfacing that were colorist, anti-Black, and insulting Black women. While he didn’t lose his job, he did lose a brand partnership.

    5. Privacy and Security

    Discuss privacy settings and security measures:

    • Privacy Settings: Teach your teens how to adjust privacy settings on different platforms. Remind them to limit personal information visibility. The only people who should know your location are your loved ones.
    • Password Safety: Emphasize strong, unique passwords and the importance of not sharing them. A mix of numbers, letters, (alphanumerical) and symbols are helpful towards creating a strong password and securing you accounts.
    • Avoid Oversharing: Caution against sharing sensitive details like addresses, phone numbers, or travel plans publicly. While it is okay to have a pen pal, it is not okay to share your personal information such as your address, real name, or even photos of yourself. Even when taking pictures of your surroundings, be careful what you capture and share on social media. Late rapper Pop Smoke, was killed in his Hollywood Hills home after his “opps” saw his address on his luggage tag that he posted on social media.

    6. Cyberbullying Awareness

    I once watched the ABC Family movie ‘Cyberbully‘ with Emily Osment and Kay Panabaker, and it really showed the dark side of online interactions and bullying on social media. The film highlights the devastating impact of cyberbullying on mental health and emphasizes the need for empathy, awareness, and responsible online behavior. Raise awareness about cyberbullying:

    • Kindness Online: Encourage kindness and empathy. Remind them that words have real impact with real consequences. Michelle Carter, a Massachusetts woman who texted her boyfriend that he should kill himself was convicted of involuntary manslaughter because the boyfriend did die by suicide per those text messages. She was sentenced to 15 months in prison and five years probation in 2017.
    • Reporting: Teach them how to report bullying or harmful content on social media platforms. Remember the phrase “if you see something, say something?” Online is no different. Even if these people are strangers, they are people at the end of the day. If you don’t like being bullied, why watch others be bullied?

    7. Lead by Example

    Parents and guardians, you must model responsible social media behavior:

    • Show Respect: Treat others online as you would in person. I have seen people on YouTube in these “sectors” or communities doing the craziest things online in order to get their channels monetized, get cash apps with large crowds in the chat and viewership, and more. In the midst of it all, there is a lot of “plays being ran”, doxing personal information to the public airways, and arguing at each other from the time their kids go to bed to the time their kids wake up for school. Your teenagers are seeing you do this, so be a better example.
    • Fact-Check: Verify information before sharing. There are so many conspiracies and clout-chasers running around, you must recognize the real from the fake. It never hurts to research before posting. Otherwise, scroll on by.
    • Balance: Demonstrate a balanced approach to social media use. For your own mental health and wellness, balance time with your teenager, your family, yourself, and your own social media use; especially if social media is your side-hustle.

    Remember, our teens need guidance, not restrictions. Engage in open conversations, listen actively, and empower them to make informed choices. By fostering a healthy digital environment, we can help our teens navigate social media responsibly and build a positive digital footprint

  • How to Support Your Teen's Mental Health in 2024: A Guide for Parents

    As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want them to be happy, healthy, and successful. But sometimes, it can be hard to know how to help them cope with the challenges of adolescence, especially in a world that is constantly changing and evolving.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of teenagers around the world. According to various studies, more than a third of high school students in the U.S. reported poor mental health, persistent sadness or hopelessness, and emotional abuse by a parent or caregiver during the pandemic. The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms among youth globally increased by 25% and 20%, respectively, compared to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, some teens experienced racism, physical abuse, and job loss in their families as a result of the pandemic. These factors may increase the risk of suicide among vulnerable youth who lack adequate support and resources.

    That’s why we’ve put together this blog post with some tips on how to support your teen’s mental health in 2024. Whether it’s dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issue, we hope these tips will help you and your teen navigate this difficult but rewarding stage of life.

    Tip #1: Listen without judging

    One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to listen to your teen without judging them. Teens often feel misunderstood, isolated, or criticized by their parents, which can make them reluctant to open up or seek help. By listening to your teen with empathy and respect, you can show them that you care about their feelings and opinions and that you are there to support them, not to judge them.

    To listen without judging, try to avoid interrupting, lecturing, or giving advice unless your teen asks for it. Instead, use active listening skills such as nodding, paraphrasing, asking open-ended questions, and reflecting back their emotions. For example, you could say something like “It sounds like you’re feeling really overwhelmed by school right now” or “I can see that you’re really passionate about this topic”. This way, you can help your teen feel heard and validated, and encourage them to share more with you.

    Tip #2: Encourage healthy habits

    Another way to support your teen’s mental health is to encourage them to adopt healthy habits that can boost their mood and well-being. These include getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, staying hydrated, and avoiding drugs and alcohol. These habits can help your teen cope with stress, regulate their emotions, and improve their self-esteem.

    To encourage healthy habits, you can model them yourself and make them part of your family routine. For example, you can set a regular bedtime and wake-up time for yourself and your teen, prepare nutritious meals and snacks together, join a fitness class or a sports team with your teen, or drink water instead of soda or alcohol. You can also praise your teen for making healthy choices and reward them with positive reinforcement such as hugs, compliments, or privileges.

    Tip #3: Help them find professional help if needed

    Sometimes, listening and encouraging healthy habits are not enough to support your teen’s mental health. If your teen is showing signs of a serious mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts, they may need professional help from a therapist, counselor, psychiatrist, or other mental health provider.

    To help your teen find professional help if needed, you can start by talking to them about the benefits of therapy and how it can help them cope with their challenges. You can also reassure them that seeking help is not a sign of weakness or failure, but a sign of strength and courage. You can then help them find a suitable provider who specializes in working with teens and who matches their preferences in terms of gender, ethnicity, culture, or approach. You can also offer to accompany them to their first appointment or check in with them regularly about how they are doing.

    Supporting your teen’s mental health in 2024 may not be easy, but it is definitely worth it. By listening without judging, encouraging healthy habits, and helping them find professional help if needed, you can show your teen that you love them unconditionally and that you are always there for them. Remember that you are not alone in this journey – there are many resources and support groups available for parents of teens with mental health issues. Together, we can make 2024 a better year for our teens and ourselves.