OVERVIEW
Adolescence is one of the most remarkable and turbulent stages of human life. Between roughly the ages of 11 and 18, a young person changes more rapidly than at almost any other time: their body, their brain, their friendships, their sense of who they are and their place in the world are all being rebuilt at once. It is also, unfortunately, the peak period for mental health conditions to begin. Around half of all lifetime mental illness has its onset by the mid-teens, which means the adults around a teenager — teachers, support staff, youth workers, coaches, care staff and parents or carers — are often the very first people who can notice that something is wrong and help a young person get support early.
This awareness-level course is written for any adult who works with or cares for teenagers and wants to feel more confident in this role. It explains why adolescence carries such mental health risk, how the still-developing teenage brain shapes the behaviour you see, and — crucially — how to tell the difference between the normal ups and downs of growing up and a mental health condition that needs support. It looks at the conditions and pressures that most affect young people today, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, and the influence of social media, body image, exam stress, identity, peer relationships, bullying and adversity. Throughout, sensitive topics such as self-harm and suicidal thoughts are handled carefully and supportively, with no detail of methods.
