10/23/2025
Understanding and Addressing Youth Mental Health Issues
Adolescence (ages 10-19) is a critical stage for developing social and emotional skills crucial to mental well-being. During this time, teens face physical, emotional, and social changes that can make them vulnerable to mental health challenges. Adolescents with mental health issues are particularly vulnerable to social isolation, stigma, academic struggles, risky behaviors, and physical health problems. Neglecting adolescent mental health can have lasting consequences that carry into adulthood, affecting overall well-being and life success. Supporting adolescent mental health requires early detection, awareness of warning signs like withdrawal or mood changes, and access to professional, culturally-competent care. It takes a village to raise a child. Families, as well as the communities, play a vital role by treating mental health as equally important as physical health, modeling healthy emotional behavior, fostering positive relationships, and promoting supportive environments in schools and communities.
Additionally, below are important steps young people themselves can take to protect, improve, and advocate for their mental health and that of their family and friends:
Remember that mental health challenges are real, common, and treatable. Struggling with your mental health doesn’t mean you are broken or something is wrong with you. Mental health is shaped by many factors and there are many ways to address those challenges.
Ask for help. Reaching out to others can be hard and takes courage, but it is worth the effort and reminds us that we are not alone.
Invest in health relationships. Social connection is a powerful reliever of stress and a source of well-being. Spend time with others regularly, find people who support and care about you, and get involved in group activities.
Learn and practice techniques to manage stress and other difficult emotions. Try to recognize situations that may be emotionally challenging for you, and come up with strategies to manage your emotions.
Take care of your body and mind. Maintain a routine, eat well, stay active, get enough sleep, stay hydrated, spend time outside, and avoid substances that don’t serve you.
Find ways to serve in your community. It may seem counterintuitive to help others when you are the one struggling. But service is a great way to connect with people, build a sense of purpose, develop your own sense of self-worth, and remind us that we have value to add to the world.
For more information about how to promote wellbeing and take care of our mental health needs, please feel free to contact our behavioral health language line. Our bilingual therapists are available to help Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
English 503-772-5893
Mandarin 503-772-5894
Cantonese 503-772-5895
Korean 503-772-5896
Vietnamese 503-772-5897
