Adolescent Supports
We get so many parents that come to us with concerns about their student over the course of their high school career. These concerns are often times in the areas of behavior, emotional need, or academic difficulty, all of which are valid and vary in severity. Whether minor or major, there are a lot of resources available that can provide assistance and tips on how best to address some of these more common questons.
"Most parents find that their child or adolescent
will behave in a problematic way at
some point along the road to adulthood. Sometimes,
the problematic behavior is brief or only
occurs every now and then. Other times, the behavior
may last for weeks or may occur frequently. In all
cases, parents wonder what they should do. Should
you ignore the problem and wait for the “phase” to pass?
If you contact your child’s school or a mental health professional,
is this an overreaction? And how do you know if your child’s
behavior indicates a significant mental health concern?
If your child has behavioral or emotional problems, the problems may appear
at home, or they may surface in other ways.
Some children and adolescents
have difficulties at school, while others may raise concerns because of the way
they behave in the community or because they get into trouble with authority
figures like the police. Remember that it can be useful to discuss your concerns
with your spouse, a relative, or a trusted friend. In general, you should not be
alarmed by moody teenager behavior that seems typical. However, if you simply
dismiss your child’s behavior as a “phase” without discussing it with anyone,
you may end up overlooking a problem that is more serious.
In fact, it is important to identify a mental health concern early, so that your
child can receive the proper care if he or she needs it. Many behavioral and emotional problems can be addressed with
treatments that are safe and effective."
Resources
National Alliance on Mental Health has a great deal of resources for both teens as well as caregivers.
