One of the biggest issues parents of teenagers may face is determining if their child is experiencing a mental health challenge or ordinary “growing pains.”
Only half of parents with children ages 16 to 24 said they are very or completely confident they can tell the difference between normal adolescent challenges and a mental health condition, according to the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor from Myriad Genetics, Inc.
Further, nearly one in three parents believe that anxiety and worry are the same thing.
“Anxiety and worry are not the same thing. Worry is situational. Anxiety is persistent and excessive and it does not go away when the specific cause of stress or distress is gone,” said Debbie Thomas, EdD, APRN.
“Every day in my practice I see children and young adults and/or their parents who have unintentionally ignored or minimized the symptoms of anxiety until they become a crisis. The best outcomes occur when we don’t wait until anxiety becomes all-consuming and life-disrupting.
“The first step in helping your child with mental health challenges is communication. However, just over half of parents think their child would be comfortable talking with them about their mental health struggles. This is echoed by the 16- to 24-year-olds surveyed-one in five said they wouldn’t tell anyone about their struggles with mental health.”
“As many parents of teens know, your kids may stop confiding in you. Yet, the GeneSight Mental Health Monitor shows how vital mental health conversations are,” said Mark Pollack, MD, chief medical officer for mental health at Myriad Genetics. “If you suspect your child’s mental health is suffering, talk to them and talk to a healthcare professional about your concerns.”
Parents may struggle with identifying and talking about mental health challenges, but the health monitor found that early intervention and treatment may help. Three in four young adults surveyed who have experienced a mental health challenge indicated at least some of their challenges occurred before age 18, yet half said their parents never sought treatment for them. Nearly three quarters of these young adults wish that their parents would have. When asked why:
•67 percent said they wouldn’t have suffered so much during their teenage years
•66 percent said they would be better equipped to handle their current problems
•64 percent said it would have better prepared them for adulthood
“Transitioning into adulthood is enough of a struggle– no one should have to battle their mental health at the same time,” said Dr. Thomas. “Give your child the gift of mental health treatment if they are experiencing anxiety so that they can become successful, caring and well-adjusted adults. This also lets them know it is okay, normal and optimal to seek help at other times in their life if needed–and is another positive step in destigmatizing mental healthcare.”
For more information on how genetic testing can help inform clinicians on treatment of depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other psychiatric conditions, visit genesight.com.
