A Parent's Guide to Understanding Teen Mental Health
January 15, 2025
As a pediatrician and now podcast host, I often reflect on pivotal moments that shaped my journey. My appearance on the “Mighty Parenting” podcast with Sandy Fowler stands out as the catalyst that inspired me to launch Pediatric Meltdown. During our discussion about teen mental health, we explored strategies that every parent should know. Here are three essential takeaways from our conversation that continue to resonate with me and my practice.
1. The Power of Simple Communication Tools
One of the most effective approaches I've found in my years of practice is using a straightforward numerical scale to assess emotional states. We discussed how asking teens to rate their feelings from 1-5 can open doors to meaningful conversations. This method is particularly valuable because teenagers often struggle to articulate their emotions verbally.
"You can always ask your kid, 'How are you feeling today?' and just let them pick a face or number. That kind of gives you a start. Sometimes I'll say to the parent, 'Do you agree with that?' And they'll be like, 'No, her worry's like a 10.' Kids don't always have great insight, but it's surprising how specific they can be about a certain emotion."
This scaling system works because it:
- Provides a quick check-in opportunity
- Respects teens' need for autonomy
- Makes difficult conversations more approachable
2. The Critical Nature of Environmental Safety
Perhaps the most sobering part of our discussion centered on the importance of creating a safe environment for teenagers, particularly regarding access to lethal means. The statistics we discussed were stark and demanded attention: 80% of firearm-related youth suicides involve firearms belonging to parents or other family members.
"Most people don't want to die by suicide. They just don't want to be in so much pain. Suicidal thoughts ebb and flow, and they often reach a high point. If kids have access to firearms and other lethal means then you may have missed the mark."
Key actions parents can take include:
- Securing or removing firearms from the home
- Creating barriers to impulsive actions
- Maintaining open communication about safety concerns
3. Understanding the Prevalence of Mental Health Challenges
The data from routine screenings reveals a reality that many parents might find surprising. Through our discussion, we highlighted how common mental health challenges are among teenagers, and why regular screening is so important.
"We screen, and it's recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that we screen our kids 12 and up for depression at least once a year. What we found is pretty hard and fast - 25% of our kids are screening positive. Most of those, about 15%, have suicidal thoughts. What's really common is anxiety."
Important considerations for parents:
- Regular mental health screenings are essential
- Monitor sleep patterns and social interactions
- Recognize that anxiety is extremely common
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Moving Forward
As I reflect on this conversation with Sandy, I'm struck by how these discussions continue to shape both pediatric practice and my focus on suicide prevention episodes on the podcast. Practical tools, safety measures, and? an understanding of mental health creates a framework for supporting our teenagers through their most challenging times.
Parents should remember that they don't need to have all the answers. As we discussed in the episode, sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply show up consistently and be willing to seek help for kids when needed. Whether it's utilizing professional resources, learning new communication tools, or creating safer environments, every step toward supporting our teens' mental health matters.
For those interested in learning more, I recommend exploring resources like the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (sprc.org) and watching films that facilitate discussions about emotions, such as "Inside Out" (the Pixar film we referenced but couldn't quite name during our conversation) and "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood."
Personal Note
This conversation with Sandy marked a turning point in my professional journey. The natural flow of our discussion and the important information we shared convinced me that podcasting could be a powerful medium for reaching more pediatric clinicians, mental health professionals, educators and families around the topic of youth mental health and emotional well-being featuring guest experts in their fields. Today, as I host Pediatric Meltdown, I carry forward the lessons learned from this conversation, continuing to share practical, actionable strategies for supporting our children's mental health.
Remember, as parents, we are often the first line of defense in protecting our children's mental health. By staying informed, remaining vigilant, and maintaining open lines of communication, we can create an environment where our teens feel supported and understood.
#ParentingTips #TeenMentalHealth #PediatricHealth #ParentingPodcast #MentalHealthAwareness #TeenagerSupport #PediatricMeltdown #ParentingAdvice
I invite you to listen to the full episode (#229)? of Pediatric Meltdown? to hear about my unique holiday traditions.
I invite you to reflect on these points:
Add your thoughts in the comments. Let's create a community that supports each other in raising emotionally resilient children.
With you in this important work,
Dr. Lia
P.S. If you found this newsletter helpful, please feel free to share it with your network. Together, we can make a positive impact on pediatric mental health!
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About Dr. Lia Gaggino
Dr. Lia Gaggino is a retired primary care pediatrician with a passion for children's mental health. She currently sits on the board of the American Academy of Pediatrics and is the host of the highly acclaimed Pediatric Meltdown podcast, offering insightful conversations with experts and practical strategies for healthcare professionals. With a mission to break down complex mental health issues affecting children, Dr. Lia aims to make a positive impact on the pediatric community. Dr. Lia is available for Speaking engagements as well as private consultations.
Be sure to check out Building Better Workflows; a limited audio series dedicated to optimizing your medical workspace for providing comprehensive mental health assessment, management, and processes to support both you and your patients. Each episode is a brief how-to designed to improve mental health workflows. Episodes include up-to-date information on suicide prevention, coding and billing, and even an episode dedicated to your well-being. A companion workbook is also available on the Pediatric Meltdown website.
Connect with her on Instagram at @pediatricmeltdown, and on Facebook and LinkedIn at Dr. Lia Gaggino.
Pediatrician and podcast host Pediatric Meltdown
1 个月So appreciate this insight. These are hard conversations for sure!
Very valuable information. Thank you for providing all of these strategies.
Pediatrician ? Author ? Keynote Speaker
1 个月I found it interesting how teens, for the most part, open up to a questionnaire. If asked point blank what’s going on and how do you feel, the answer is often “Great, all is good.” Given a PHQ-9 or any questionnaire, answers become more honest. Discussing these answers leads to more revealing conversations. Not an easy task to accomplish in the time-constraints of a pediatric office visit, but very worthwhile and revealing for child, parent and physician.