The world today looks very different from 20 or 30 years ago. When it comes to kids and teenagers, the challenges they face are vastly different yet no less significant.

48 years have passed since the Soweto Uprising began on 16 June 1976. The struggles that those school children experienced in the face of a violent oppressor were so blatant and obvious, filled with hurt and suffering. When compared to the struggles faced by teenagers today, they may seem small and insignificant, not as serious or easily solvable. However, increasing rates of stress, burnout, depression and anxiety in teenagers is more problematic today than ever before in our history.

Taking Notice

What makes this all the more difficult is that becoming a teenager is already stressful as they have to navigate the challenges of puberty. Changes in their mood, sleeping and eating habits, their friendships and their interests make it difficult to tell whether or not they are struggling with their mental health. Some degree of change is normal, it’s important to notice when it is not. Here are some areas to look out for:

1.        Sleep – teenagers tend to want to stay up late and wake up even later. This is actually quite normal. When your teenager spends most of the day in bed, or they struggle to fall asleep regularly this may be a sign of a deeper issue.

2.        Moodiness and irritability – usually, teenagers tend to get moody, frustrated and irritable. This is expected and typical of usual teenage behaviour. If a teenager’s moodiness is constantly escalating and becoming worse, or they seem unable to cope with their feelings without exploding then this may be something to take note of and seek professional help.

3.        School results: Experiencing some stress and anxiety around school is fairly normal for teenagers, especially when it comes to achieving good marks. This becomes a problem when they lose sleep over their marks, or you notice a sudden change in their school marks.

4.        Defiance/rebellion: Some level of defiance and pushing the boundaries is common amongst all teens. Pushing back against rules, especially in the home, constitutes fairly normal behaviour. When they begin to exhibit more extreme rebellious nature such as breaking the law or facing multiple detentions/suspensions at school, this may be cause for concern.

5.        Lying and secrecy: Teenagers seem to constantly seek privacy from their parents when it comes to their lives. They may even begin to make their own decisions from time to time without parental input. This may become an issue if they begin to lie consistently and in a variety of situations, as well as concealing risky or dangerous behaviour.

As we look back on Youth Day, why not take a moment to think about the teenagers in your life. Does their behaviour seem a bit off, are they not acting like themselves, or have they changed drastically in the last few months? If so, consider reaching out and referring them to a professional who can assist them.