Teenagers and adolescents face specific issues when dealing with anxiety and trying to maintain good mental health
Over recent years, researchers have noted a steep rise in anxiety disorders among teenagers and the devastating impact of Covid-19 — including the effects of lockdowns and social isolation — are still emerging. However, one fact remains undisputed: Anxiety is an increasing problem for a greater number of children and adolescents than ever before.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that anxiety disorders are the most frequent psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents, affecting as many as 15-to-20 per cent of young people. Furthermore, longitudinal data show that young people with anxiety disorders are three times more likely to develop anxiety or depression in adult life. They are also at greater risk of substance misuse, and youth anxiety disorders are linked with poorer long-term general health and functioning, interpersonal difficulties, and financial and educational problems.
Even before Covid-19, teenage and adolescent mental health was on the decline. Undertaken by the UCD School of Psychology and mental health charity Jigsaw, the My World Survey 2 painted a stark picture of youth mental health in Ireland. Released in 2019, the research involved more than 19,000 teenagers and young adults aged between 12 and 15 years old. Some 10,459 of these were in secondary school, and 22 per cent of these young people reported difficulties with extreme anxiety.
Marked increase
There was a marked increase in levels of anxiety and depression compared to the My World 1 survey from 2012. Other key findings included that females in particular showed increased levels of anxiety and lower self-esteem, body esteem, and fewer mental health protective factors. In addition, poor sleep quality, lower physical activity, social media and pornography use were strongly correlated with depression and anxiety, and those from seldom-heard groups were especially vulnerable to problematic anxiety and suicide attempts than their age- matched peers.
St Patrick’s Mental Health Services breaks down the diagnostic classification for anxiety disorders as follows:
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): Characterised by chronic, excessive worry in a number of areas such as schoolwork, social interactions, family, health/safety, world events. Children with GAD have trouble controlling their worries, they are often perfectionistic, show high reassurance-seeking and may struggle with more internal distress than is evident to others.
- Social phobia is characterised by feeling scared of uncomfortable in one or more social settings
or performance situations. The discomfort is associated with social scrutiny and the fear of doing something embarrassing. These individuals may have difficulty eating in public, answering questions in class, reading aloud, initiating conversations, talking with unfamiliar people, and attending parties or social events.
- Agoraphobia describes an interrelated and often overlapping cluster of phobias embracing fears of leaving home, where there is difficulty of immediate escape to a safe place.
- Panic disorder includes essential features of recurrent attacks of severe anxiety/panic which are not restricted to any particular set of circumstances and are unpredictable.
However, despite the struggles with anxiety that many teenagers and young people have to face, there are aspects of the phenomenon that provide reasons for hope and positivity. In recent years, there
has been greater awareness of the seriousness of anxiety among teenagers. The My World Survey 2 showed that the number of young people seeking help from supportive adults has increased, while the number of young people affected by bullying, financial worries and alcohol abuse has decreased.
While much is made of young people using social media as their
Those from seldom- heard groups were especially vulnerable to problematic anxiety
only form of interaction with friends, the survey showed that young people are increasingly using social media to enhance and continue relationships that are made offline.
Interventions
Increasingly, researchers are looking at potential clinical, educational, and community?based interventions to stem the tide of adolescent anxiety. “Adolescent anxiety is influenced by a multitude of factors that encompass biological, environmental, and social domains,” wrote the authors of a 2024 study and review of literature published in J Child Adolesc Psychiatr Nursing. “Understanding these factors can aid in identifying at?risk youth and developing effective interventions and treatment strategies, thereby facilitating the care provided by psychiatric nurses.”
The WHO is developing and testing scalable psychological interventions to address emotional disorders of adolescents, and guidance on mental health services for adolescents, and is spearheading a number of initiatives, including mental health training packages for educators.
The WHO also advocates promotion and prevention awareness and to provide youths with alternatives to risk-taking behaviours, early detection and treatment, and reducing the risks for teenagers to fall prey to suicidal ideation — suicide is the third- leading cause of death in older adolescents and young adults aged 15-to-29 years.
“It is crucial to address the needs of adolescents with mental health conditions,” states the WHO. “Avoiding institutionalisation and over-medicalisation, prioritising non- pharmacological approaches, and respecting the rights of children in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and other human rights instruments are key for adolescents’ mental health.”
