Mood swings are a normal part of adolescence, but teens also struggle with conditions that affect their mental health. The experienced team at Spero Psychiatry and Counseling in Gilbert, Arizona, includes a therapist specializing in teenage mental health. Jared Carter, LCSW, has years of experience working with children, teens, and their families, managing a range of challenging behaviors. Mental illness affects teens too, but it’s treatable. Call or schedule a teenage mental health consultation online today. Spero Psychiatry and Counseling offers telepsychiatry appointments and flexible scheduling.

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What should I know about teenage mental health?

It’s important to know that mental health is crucial throughout every stage of life, especially the teenage years. Your mental health affects how you think, feel, and act. It also influences how you handle stress and make decisions.

The teenage years are a time of significant physical and psychological change. Adolescence is also the time for developing social and emotional habits that benefit mental well-being throughout life.

Because of the physical and psychological changes and the pressure teens may feel about school, friendship, and the world around them, they’re more susceptible to mental health issues that affect how they think, feel, and behave.

Teens have mood swings, but may also struggle with mental illness affecting their thoughts and feelings. However, they don’t have to suffer. With the right help, you can improve teenage mental health.

What conditions affect teenage mental health?

Many conditions affect teenage mental health. Some of the conditions the team at Spero Psychiatry and Counseling treats include:

  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Bipolar disorder

Many factors influence teenage mental health, including stress, peer relationships, and home life. The more risk factors a teen has, the more likely they are to experience mental health challenges.

When should I consider teenage mental health services?

You should consider teenage mental health services if you have concerns about your teen’s mental well-being. Teens may exhibit different symptoms than adults when experiencing emotional distress.

Signs and symptoms of mental illness in teens include:

  • Changes in sleep or eating habits
  • Quitting activities they enjoy
  • Withdrawing from friends and family
  • Canceling plans without explanations
  • Declining grades at school
  • Reports of behavior problems at school
  • Unwilling to talk to you about their struggles

Irritability, anger, and tearfulness are other signs of teenage mental health distress.

What can I expect from teenage mental health services?

You can expect compassionate teenage mental health services at Spero Psychiatry and Counseling. The team conducts an initial psychiatric consultation to understand how your teen thinks and feels so they can formulate a diagnosis.

Then, they talk with you and your teen about treatment, which may include psychotherapy, parent coaching, medication management, or a combination of these treatments.

Jared specializes in working with children, teens, and their families and provides compassionate teenage mental health services.

Call Spero Psychiatry and Counseling or schedule an appointment online today.