Understanding Teen Mental Health: A Guide for Parents
- Dr Natalie Hutchins
- Sep 15
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 16
By Dr. Natalie Hutchins and psychologist Anneliese Lai
Being a parent to a teenager can sometimes feel like navigating a maze with moving walls. Rapid changes in mood, withdrawal, new friendships, and secrecy can all feel overwhelming or even alarming. But with rates of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders skyrocketing among teens—especially girls—it's never been more important to understand teen mental health and how you, as a parent, can help.
Based on insights from Dr. Natalie Hutchins and psychologist Anneliese Lai, here’s a comprehensive guide to supporting your teen through these challenging years.
Why Is Teen Mental Health Under Pressure?
Several factors are driving the surge in mental health issues among teenagers:
Diet Culture & Social Media: While body image concerns have existed for generations, the rise of social media intensifies comparison and self-esteem issues. Teens are bombarded with unrealistic standards, and trends like "What I Eat in a Day" videos can skew their understanding of healthy behaviors.
Friendship Dynamics: The quest to fit in, coupled with social drama and online interactions, means peer relationships are more complex—and potentially more stressful—than ever.
Academic Pressure: Many teens experience anxiety around performance at school, often sacrificing sleep to keep up.
Relational and Attachment Trauma: Family dynamics, major life changes, or past trauma can also raise the risk of mental health concerns and eating disorders.
Spotting the Early Warning Signs
It’s natural for teens to go through ups and downs, but when should you be concerned? Dr. Hutchins and Anneliese Lai suggest watching for:
Intensity and Duration: Are feelings of sadness, irritability, or anxiety persistent and intense? For example, frequent anger outbursts or irritability can be signs of depression in teens, rather than just sadness and crying.
Impact on Functioning: Is your teen withdrawing from friends, seeing grades suddenly drop, avoiding school, or struggling with daily routines?
Somatic Symptoms: Teens often describe anxiety as feeling restless, unable to relax, or having trouble sleeping.
Self-Harm: Self-harming behaviors are not simply “attention-seeking”—they’re often attempts to express overwhelming distress or seek connection.
Eating Behaviors: Watch for rigid food rules, skipping meals, increased preoccupation with food, compulsive exercise, or significant changes in weight—these can all indicate disordered eating.
How Parents Can Help
1. Stay Calm and Present Managing your own anxiety is key. Teens in distress need a calm, steady presence—not more chaos. Even when you’re terrified or upset, try to be patient and composed, showing that you’re there for them no matter what.
2. Be Curious, Not Judgemental Create a safe space for your teen to express themselves—ask open-ended questions, and listen without immediately jumping to solutions or lectures. Show genuine interest in their thoughts and feelings.
3. Encourage Expression Over Suppression Help your teen name and talk about what they’re feeling. Model open, honest discussions about emotions in your family.
4. Avoid Overpraising or Labeling While positive feedback is good, focus on specific efforts or values rather than vague labels (“You’re so smart!”). Better to highlight, “I saw how hard you worked on that project, even though it was tough.”
5. Support (Don’t Invade) Their Independence You can’t solve every problem for your teen, but you can walk alongside them. Encourage them to take small steps out of their comfort zone, and let them know you’re available—without forcing your way in.
6. Practice Repair When You Slip Up Nobody gets it right all the time. If you’ve had tense moments or regrettable reactions, openly acknowledge it and apologize. Repairing ruptures can actually strengthen your relationship.
7. Cultivate Body and Food Neutrality Be mindful of how you talk about your own body and food in front of your child. Try not to label foods as "good" or "bad," and avoid negative self-talk about your appearance.
8. Curate Social Media and Teach Digital Literacy Total bans on technology are often impractical, but you can guide your teen towards positive content and teach them how to navigate social media critically. Help them understand the permanence of their digital footprint and encourage them to follow accounts that uplift rather than harm.
9. Focus on Their Whole Identity Encourage activities and passions outside of appearance—sports, arts, volunteering, music, and other interests can all help your teen discover their strengths and worth beyond how they look.
What If My Teen Needs More Help?
If you notice signs of significant distress, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. A team approach—doctor, therapist, school counselor, and family—can make a huge difference. Early intervention leads to better outcomes, so even if you’re unsure, reaching out is a powerful first step.
Remember, eating disorders and mental health conditions are not caused by “bad parenting.” They are illnesses, and your role is to be a supportive ally, getting your child the help they need.
Final Thoughts
Parenting through the teen years is full of challenges, but connection trumps perfection. It’s never too late to start building a closer, more supportive relationship. With patience, empathy, and a willingness to learn and repair, you can help your teen weather the storms—and emerge stronger.
If you or your child are struggling, reach out to a healthcare professional for advice and support.
“It’s never too late to reconnect with your teen.” — Anneliese Lai
Further Resources:
Source: “How To Be a Woman” Podcast, Episode 1 with Dr. Natalie Hutchins and psychologist Anneliese Lai
