Expert tips for supporting young adults' mental health

Yahoo

5 days ago

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — While a lot of kids and teens are looking forward to summer vacation, many are also dealing with stress.
Dr. Brian Curtis from OSF Healthcare stopped by WMBD This Morning to talk about some of these challenges. He explains that, for many young adults, the start of summer can also mark a transitional point in their lives.
Eighth graders are getting ready for high school, high schoolers are getting ready for college, and college students are getting ready to enter the workforce and live independently.
And as teens make those transitions, the added stress can lead to mental health challenges.
':About 50% of mental illness before somebody is 17 years old,' he said. 'And then about 60 to 70% of kids will experience some type of mental health [issue] every year.'
According to Curtis, parents should look out for sudden behavior changes in their kids.
'Change in personality, change in habits, maybe a change in friend groups,' the doctor said.
But Curtis also cautions parents that adolescence inherently comes with a degree of change. He says parents should find a balance that works best for their family and their child.
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Curtis also acknowledges it can be difficult for parents and young adults to talk about mental health.
'If you told somebody that they had a broken arm, it'd be okay to have a cast on. But to tell somebody that you're depressed, or you're anxious, or you're really kind of struggling, that's just sometimes not well accepted,' he said.
He says parents should try to open a dialogue with their teen to help them express how they're feeling. One way to do this is to have dinner together as a family.
'It's really hard to sit next to somebody for 45 minutes and have dinner, without having some type of conversation,' he said.
Above all, Curtis wants parents to let their children know they support them. 'Let them know you love them, and that you can always come home.'
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