Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness in Teens

With teen suicide the third leading cause of death in young adults ages 15 to 24 in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recognizing the warning signs of mental illness, including depression, schizophrenia, substance abuse, bipolar disorder and eating issues, is a critical first step towards treating and helping mentally ill teenagers.

Fragile Emotional State

• Depending upon the type of mental illness and the teen’s individual situation, she may experience a number of emotional symptoms. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, mental illness in teens can lead to feelings of worthlessness and guilt, as well as anxiety and persistent worry. Teens struggling with mental illness may appear angry and suffer from a tendency to over-react. The teenager may have a difficult time recovering from the death of a loved one or a loss--leading to a persistent feeling of sadness or hopelessness.

Social and Interpersonal Changes

• Teens suffering from mental illnesses, such as depression, often experience dramatic shifts in their normal routines and patterns. Straight “A” students might bring home failing grades or start to avoid friends and family members. Excessive sleeping and a loss of interest in former hobbies or activities can also occur. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends monitoring teens carefully for any type of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, such as writing goodbye notes or putting their affairs in order and giving away favorite possessions.

Changes in Diet

• Some of the disorders that deal with appearance and weight, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia, can cause teens to diet and exercise rigorously. If your teen continues to get thinner despite eating large amounts, she may be purging through vomiting or using laxatives.

Risky Behaviors

• When struggling with mental illness, teens may experiment with alcohol or drugs. Other troubling behaviors that could indicate mental illness include setting fires or killing/torturing animals. Suicidal or depressed teens might experiment with risky or life-threatening behaviors, such as self-mutilation.

Agitation and Paranoia

• A teen suffering from mental illness may appear excessively agitated and difficult to settle down. They can seem paranoid and fixated on something or someone doing harm to them. Teens later diagnosed with schizophrenia often complain of hearing voices. There may be difficulty with sleeping due to racing thoughts, which may show up in the daytime as an inability to focus on a task or project.

Physical Symptoms

• Bodily symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, typically accompany mental illness in teens, according to researchers at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Researchers noted that 53 percent of younger adolescents complained of headaches and 47 percent suffered chronic stomach pain. Thorough evaluations often fail to turn up medical reasons for these complaints.