Worried about your teenager? - NHS

It can be difficult for parents to tell whether their teenagers are just "being teens" or if there is something more serious going on.

Many of the things you may notice, such as changing moods, can often be attributed to normal teenage behaviour. However, it can be helpful to know when there may be signs of a more serious problem.

If you’re worried about your teenager’s behaviour or general wellbeing you should consider:

speaking to your teenager about your worries
getting advice from a GP

It’s important to know that many parents and carers find teenage behaviour difficult to understand or challenging to cope with.

Read more aboutcoping with your teenager.

青少年的抑郁症

Noticeable symptoms of depression in teenagers can include:

continuous low mood or sadness as well as frequent tearfulness
voicing/showing feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
易怒和不宽容
little or no enjoyment of things that were once interesting to them
增加社会隔离
disturbed sleep patterns (for example, problems going to sleep and/or waking throughout the night)

Teenage eating disorders

The most common eating disorders includeanorexia,贪食症,binge eatingand other specified feeding or eating disorder (OFSED).

当症状与厌食症，贪食症或暴饮暴食障碍的症状不完全匹配时，可能同样严重。一些儿童和年轻人可能会遇到回避/限制性食物摄入障碍（ARFID）。

Signs of eating disorders can include:

抱怨脂肪，即使体重正常或体重不足
letting people around them think they have eaten when they have not
being secretive about their eating habits
becoming anxious, upset or guilty when asked to eat
vomiting, or using laxatives in order to lose weight

Teenagers who self-harm

If you suspect that your teenager is self-harming, look out for any of the following signs:

unexplained cuts, bruises or cigarette burns, usually on their wrists, arms, thighs and chest
即使在炎热的天气下，始终保持自己的掩护
signs of depression, such as low mood, tearfulness, a lack of interest in everything
signs of自卑, such as blaming themselves for any problems or thinking they are not good enough
signs they have been pulling out their hair

Read more aboutself-harmand if needed,where to get urgent help for mental health.

MindEd for families has more information aboutwhat to do in a crisis.

Teenagers who take drugs

Signs that your teenager is taking drugs can include:

失去对爱好，体育或其他喜欢的活动的兴趣
dramatic changes in behaviour
excessive tiredness and lack of appetite
扩张的学生，红眼睛，皮肤不好
stealing money from you

Find out more about drug use and getting help.

我该如何帮助我的少年？

If you're worried about your teenager and they refuse to talk to you, you may need to open up other channels of communication.

Avoid persistent direct questioning as this can make them feel threatened.

Try these tips to encourage your teenager to open up if there is a problem:

be honest and explain that you're worried that they're going through something difficult
point them towards websites or helplines that can give them information on depression, drugs and self-harm so they can find out the facts themselves
do not blame yourself for any problems they're having and try not to take it personally – this will not help the situation
tell them you'll be there for them when they do want to talk
让他们选择去哪里寻求帮助，这可能是GP，家庭朋友或学校顾问
help your teenager think for themselves – encourage them to think through the pros and cons of their behaviour, remind them what they’re good at and what you like about them, and help them think critically about what they see and hear

有关更多有用的提示，请参阅Talking to your teenager.

More information and support

If you're concerned about the physical or mental health of your child or young person it may be a good idea to speak to a GP.

You can also read more about儿童和年轻人的心理健康服务（CYPMHS）新利首页.

There are also several organisations that provide emotional support and practical advice for both your teenager and yourself:

Family Livesis a charity specialising in families. You can call their confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222 (9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm Saturday to Sunday). You can also visit theirforums
Young Minds, the mental health charity, has a dedicated, confidential helpline. Call them on 0808 802 5544 (9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday)
涉及offers relationship advice and counselling. You can also useLive Chatto talk to a counsellor
FRANK, the drugs charity, has comprehensive information about drugs. You can also call their helpline on 0300 123 6600 (available 24/7)