teen Wellness

Let's help our teens! 

Today's teens are living in a different world. Disrupted routines. Separation from their friends. College expectations. Worried about world events. The list goes on and on. For teens and tweens, the coronavirus pandemic has added new pressure to their already tumultuous world. These stressors can intensify existing mental health issues in teens, says Ellen Rome, MD, MPH, a pediatrician and head of the Center for Adolescent Medicine. 

Research has shown approximately 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness will develop before the age of seventeen. Unfortunately, teen mental health issues are often overlooked or written off as “typical teen angst” that will go away on its own.  Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults in the United States and more teens than ever are experiencing depression, anxiety, behavioral health issues, learning disabilities, ADHD, stomach issues, and substance use. While there are many reasons for these increases, the one thing that is certain is that we need to take action to help our teens be well!  

The time is now to start teaching our teens and giving them the tools they need to help them create healthy minds and healthy lifestyles.  More than ever, today's teens need to learn healthy self-care skills to help them cope with stress. Helping teens learn to love themselves and prioritize creating a healthy lifestyle will prevent the crises we're seeing in our world and will have a tremendous impact on their health and happiness.  

IHS works with teens and provides them with education, access, inspiration, and support that can help them take charge of how they feel and create sustainable health and happiness. We can help our teens (and families) find balance in their body, mind, and spirit, which will create a strong foundation for healthy adulthood and a better future!