- Losing interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Bad grades
- Dropping old friends for a new group
- Acting sad, aggressive, or angry
- Sleeping more than usual
- Breaking rules
- Sudden physical changes like weight loss, frequent nose bleeds, bloodshot/watery eyes, shakes, and hand tremors
- Poor hygiene
- Secretive behavior
Research has improved understanding of risk factors that help prevent youth from a variety of risky behaviors, including substance use. These are known as protective factors.
- Some protective factors for high-risk substance use include:
- Parent or family engagement
- Family support
- Parental disapproval of substance use
- Parental monitoring
- What is parental monitoring?
Parental monitoring includes: 1) the expectations parents have for their teen’s behavior; 2) the actions parents take to keep track of their teen; and 3) the ways parents respond when their teen breaks the rules.
You are using parental monitoring when you ask your teen:
- Where will you be?
- Whom will you be with?
- When will you be home?
Monitoring should begin in early childhood and continue throughout the teen years. Consistent monitoring throughout the teen years is critical – teens’ desire for independence can bring opportunities for unhealthy or unsafe behaviors. Having a good, open, and caring relationship with your teen increases the effectiveness of monitoring.
Research shows that teens whose parents use effective monitoring practices are less likely to make poor decisions such as smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.
- School connectedness
The number of adolescents reporting poor mental health is increasing. Poor mental health in adolescents is more than feeling blue. It can impact various aspects of a teen’s life. Youth with poor mental health may struggle with decision making, school and grades, and their health.
Youth who experience mental health problems often experience other health and behavioral risks such as increased risk of drug use, experiencing violence, and higher risk sexual behaviors. Health behaviors and habits established during adolescence carry over into adulthood. It is important to help youth develop and maintain good mental health!
Mental Health and Wellness
Building strong bonds and connecting to youth can help protect their mental health. In addition, schools and parents can create protective relationships to help them grow into healthy adulthood.
- Engage in open and honest communication, including discussions about values.
- Supervise their adolescent to facilitate healthy decision-making.
- Spend time with their adolescent enjoying shared activities.
- Become engaged in school activities and help with homework.
- Volunteer at their adolescent’s school.
- Communicate regularly with teachers and administrators.