Mental health therapy for teens includes a variety of treatment options for a wide array of conditions. Some conditions may require temporary medical treatment while others may require life-long care. In order to obtain a diagnosis and treatment for any mental health condition, a visit to a healthcare center is essential.
Teens are vulnerable to the same mental health disorders that adults are. The risks of untreated psychiatric disorders in teens are associated with substance abuse, suicide, poor school performance, reduced social interactions and even suicide. Mental health therapy for teens can help reduce these risks and help teens enjoy an improved quality of life once their symptoms can be managed.1
Knowing what to expect when meeting with a healthcare provider or therapist may help teens feel more comfortable about the treatment process.
Evaluation for Mental Health Therapy for Teens
Before any treatment can be recommended, healthcare providers need to understand the nature of the sufferer’s condition.2 Often, the first step in mental health therapy for teens is a simple questionnaire. Healthcare providers may ask teens to fill out paperwork that asks them to rate the intensity of their symptoms and to describe their symptoms. In some cases, healthcare providers may ask these questions in person. Doctors need to assess the mental health symptoms of their teen patients in order to arrive at a diagnosis.
Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can be provided. Because the risks of untreated psychiatric disorders in teens are significant, healthcare providers will do all they can to make a competent diagnosis that can lead to effective treatments.
Mental Health Education
After a diagnosis is made, many healthcare providers or therapists will take time to educate teen patients and their families about the nature of the condition. Mental health conditions can occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes a medical condition may be the root of the problem. Other times, it could be stress or a traumatic experience that is causing the mood or mental health symptoms.
It’s important for teens and adults to understand their diagnosis so they can fully invest in the treatment and recovery process. Education about mental health therapy for teens is empowering for those who are experiencing symptoms. Learning about their condition and how to effectively manage it can help teens begin their recovery journey.
Medications
Although not all teens will be prescribed a medication to help them combat their mental illness, many conditions respond well to medication. Without treatment, untreated psychiatric disorders in teens can lead to an escalation of the disorder, and healthcare providers will try to minimize that risk where appropriate with medical interventions like antidepressants or other medications. Medications can help minimize the symptoms of mental health conditions so that teens can enjoy an improved quality of life.
Mental Health Therapy for Teens
Both short-term and ongoing therapy may be called for, depending on the diagnosis. Without therapy, untreated psychiatric disorders in teens can impede the teen’s life and cause them to suffer needlessly. Therapy will help teen sufferers understand when to seek help and how to best cope with their mental health symptoms.
Mental health therapy for teens is the first step toward recovery. Some mental health conditions like schizophrenia may require life-long treatment, but even this disease can be effectively managed with therapy and medication. Take mental health symptoms seriously and seek therapy as soon as possible.
