RESOURCES

Adolescent depression is a serious mental health condition that affects teenagers, making them feel persistently sad, hopeless, or unmotivated. While mood swings are normal during adolescence, depression is different—it lasts for weeks or months and can interfere with daily life, relationships, and self-esteem.

Depression isn’t just about feeling sad—it’s a medical condition that affects the brain and emotions. It can be caused by a mix of factors, such as genetics, stress, trauma, or even changes in brain chemistry.

Therapy, support from loved ones, and sometimes medication can make a huge difference. Encouraging open conversations, validating emotions, and seeking professional help can all support someone struggling with depression.

Anxiety disorders are more common among older than among younger adolescents. It is estimated that 4.4% of 10–14-year-olds and 5.5% of 15–19-year-olds experience an anxiety disorder.   

Anxiety can take many forms and it is important to know that the type of anxiety may change as you grow older, eg you may have had Separation Anxiety when you started Kindy, then developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in primary school, later developing Social Anxiety in high school, or even Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Disorder or specific Phobias later on.

Anxiety Disorders are common co-morbid conditions with chronic pain, trauma, depression, ADHD, etc. 

Research has demonstrated that the most effective treatment is therapy, specifically CBT. Sometimes, treatment with medication may be required when symptoms are severe and debilitating.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the current term for a specific neurodevelopmental disorder seen in both children and adults that is comprised of deficits in behavioral inhibition, sustained attention and resistance to distraction, and the regulation of one’s activity level to the demands of a situation (hyperactivity or restlessness).

ADHD occurs in approximately 3-7% of the childhood population and approximately 2-5% of the adult population. Among children the gender ratio is approximately 3:1 with boys more likely to have the disorder than girls.  

Many treatments exist which can effectively assist with its management.   Chief among these treatments is the education of the family and school staff about the nature of the disorder and its management. Research overwhelmingly supports the use of stimulant medications for this disorder in achieving the greatest degree of improvement in symptoms.

Adolescence is an exciting time of growth, exploration, finding oneself and developing an identity.  It is a crucial period for developing social and emotional habits important for mental well-being. These include adopting healthy sleep patterns; exercising regularly; developing coping, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills; and learning to manage emotions.  It is also a tumultuous time when strong emotions can be overwhelming and affect everyone in the family. These powerful emotions may impact on the enjoyment of this period of life. Without timely intervention, some of these vulnerabilities may progress to long-term mental health disorders in adulthood.

Personality Disorders are generally not diagnosed before the age of 18, however you may be experiencing symptoms consistent with a particular type of personality disorder, which is termed "emerging symptoms". There is a myth that personality disorders are permanent and untreatable. The best treatment is delivered in adolescence while your personality is still developing, helping you in identifying unhelpful ways of interacting with the world and assisting you to make different choices and to adopt better coping skills.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts of the event. An estimated 3.9% of the global population has experienced PTSD at some point in their lives and feeling supported by others can help reduce the risk of developing it. Whist the mainstay of treatment is therapy, sometimes symptoms may be so severe that you may need medication to manage them. 

PTSD may seem to be unmanageable and unescapable, but with support and treatment, you can overcome the impact of the trauma and learn that it does not have control over your life anymore.

Psychosis is the term for a collection of symptoms that happen when a person has trouble telling the difference between what’s real and what’s not. This disconnection from reality can happen for several reasons, including many different mental and physical health conditions. Two important symptoms of psychosis are:

Hallucinations. This is when you experience a sense (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste) but there is no external cause for that sensory experience or something actually happening. An example of a hallucination is hearing voices that aren’t there (auditory hallucination).

Delusions. These are false beliefs that someone holds onto very strongly, even when others don’t believe them or there’s plenty of evidence that a belief isn't true. For example, people with delusions of control believe someone is controlling their thoughts or actions remotely.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions that affect how a person thinks, communicates, and interacts with the world. The word “spectrum” is used because autism can look different from person to person—some people may need a lot of support, while others are highly independent.

Common traits of ASD can include differences in social interactions, repetitive behaviors, strong interests in specific topics, and unique ways of processing sensory information (like sounds, lights, or textures). Some autistic individuals may struggle with change, while others thrive in structured environments.

Autism isn’t a disease—it's a different way of experiencing the world. Understanding and accepting these differences can help autistic individuals feel supported and valued.

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect how people relate to food, their bodies, and their emotions. They can involve unhealthy eating habits, extreme concerns about weight or body image, and distressing thoughts about food.

There are different types of eating disorders, including:

Anorexia nervosa – when someone severely restricts food intake because of an intense fear of gaining weight.

Bulimia nervosa – involves cycles of binge eating followed by behaviors like vomiting or excessive exercise to compensate.

Binge eating disorder – when someone eats large amounts of food in a short time, often feeling out of control or guilty afterward.

Eating disorders aren’t just about food—they often stem from emotional struggles, societal pressures, or personal experiences. They can affect anyone, regardless of gender or age, and they can have serious physical and emotional consequences.

Treatment usually involves therapy, nutritional guidance, and medical care. Support from family and friends also plays a huge role in recovery.

What a world we live in! The availability of technology, the speed of connection, access to all the information in the world. Our brains have just not been able to keep up. Despite its advantages, there are also some negative impacts of advanced technology to be aware of.

Cybersecurity is all about staying safe online. Just like you lock your doors to protect your home, cybersecurity helps protect your personal information, devices, and accounts from hackers, scams, and other threats.

Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology—like social media, messaging apps, or online forums—to harass, intimidate, or embarrass another person. Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying can happen 24/7, and messages or posts can spread quickly to a large audience.

Cyberbullying can have serious emotional effects, leading to stress, anxiety, or even depression. If someone is being targeted, they should block the bully, save evidence, and talk to a trusted friend, parent, or teacher. Many social media platforms also have tools to report harmful behavior.

Deliberate self-harm is when someone intentionally hurts themselves as a way to cope with emotional pain, distress, or overwhelming feelings. It’s not usually about wanting to die, but rather a way to deal with difficult emotions when other coping methods feel unavailable.

People who self-harm might do things like cutting, burning, hitting themselves, or engaging in other risky behaviors. They may struggle with feelings of guilt, shame, or isolation and might not know how to express what they’re going through.

It’s important to understand that self-harm is a sign that someone is in emotional pain, not attention-seeking. Support, understanding, and professional help—like talking to a counselor or therapist—can make a huge difference.

If someone is struggling with self-harm, letting them know they’re not alone and encouraging them to seek support can be an important first step.

Adolescent anger issues can be tricky because teenagers go through a lot of changes—physically, emotionally, and socially. Their brains are still developing, and hormones can make emotions feel more intense. On top of that, they’re dealing with school stress, friendships, family expectations, and figuring out who they are.

Anger itself isn’t bad—it’s a normal emotion. But when it’s overwhelming or expressed in harmful ways, it can cause problems. Some teens might lash out, argue a lot, or struggle to control their frustration, while others might bottle up their anger. Understanding their triggers, teaching healthy ways to express emotions, and giving them space to talk can help.

Gaming addiction, also known as video game addiction or internet gaming disorder, is characterized by a compulsive need to play online games leading to significant impairment in personal, social, educational and occupational functioning. Symptoms may include reduced control over gaming habits, neglect of personal care and negative impacts on relationships (conflict) and responsibilities (education).

Health risks associated with excessive gaming include depression, sleep deprivation, social anxiety and agoraphobia. Treatment options may involve therapy, support groups and strategies for managing gaming time effectively.