Be the support your teen needs
As a parent or caregiver, supporting a teen through adolescence can be challenging. Teen Line provides guidance and resources to help you better understand your teen’s mental health, navigate common concerns, and respond with confidence and care.
Adolescents often experience adult emotions without the fully developed skills to manage them. This can explain why teens may act impulsively, feel overwhelmed by loss or rejection, or engage in risky behavior—even when they “know better.” Knowing what’s typical and what may be cause for concern can make all the difference.
Myths and misconceptions about teens
Understanding what’s real—and what’s not—can help you better support your teen.
Myth: Being moody is just part of being a teen.
Truth: While moodiness can be normal, persistent changes in mood, sleep, appetite, or behavior may indicate something more serious.
Myth: My teen doesn’t care what I think.
Truth: Even if it doesn’t always show, teens often value their caregivers opinions and adopt many of their values.
Myth: My teen hates me because I’m strict.
Truth: Teens may push back against rules, but clear boundaries are linked to better outcomes in school performance, substance use, and safety.
Parents and caregivers’ common questions
Here are some of the most common questions parents and caregivers ask—designed to help you better understand your teen’s behavior, recognize when to be concerned, and determine whether what they’re experiencing is typical or something more serious.
What are the most common warning signs of depression in teens?
Look out for these signs, especially when they persist over days or weeks:
- Sadness, hopelessness, or irritability
- Frequent crying or sudden mood swings
- Withdrawal from family or friends
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Changes in sleep or eating habits
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of worthlessness or low self-esteem
- Fatigue or lack of motivation
- Substance use
- Anxiety
- Self-injury
Keep in mind: A single bad day isn’t cause for panic—but consistent patterns or severe changes in behavior may signal the need for professional help.
What are common warning signs of suicide?
While not always obvious, the following signs may indicate suicidal thoughts:
- Talking or joking about suicide or dying
- Saying things like “I wish I were dead” or “There’s no way out”
- Glorifying death or imagining how others would react to their death
- Writing or drawing about death or suicide
- Engaging in reckless behavior or having frequent accidents
- Giving away prized possessions
- Saying goodbye or making final plans
- Looking up methods of self-harm or suicide
If you notice these signs, take them seriously and seek professional support right away.
What is self-harm or NSSI (non-suicidal self-injury)?
Self-harm includes behaviors like cutting, burning, head banging, excessive skin picking, poisoning, or intentionally preventing wounds from healing. These actions are often a way to manage emotional pain and are not typically intended as suicide attempts.
Self-harm may be linked to mental health conditions such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Behavioral disorders
- Eating disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
(Source: TopCounselingSchools.org)
Why do teens self-harm?
There are many reasons a teen may engage in self-injury, including:
- Coping mechanism for overwhelming emotions or traumatic events
- Regaining control when life feels out of control
- Feeling something during periods of emotional numbness
- Managing emotions or releasing built-up tension
- Self-punishment due to feelings of shame, guilt, or low self-worth
