Getting help

How to help teens in emotional distress: anxiety and depression

Getting help

How to help teens in emotional distress: anxiety and depression

Author: Dr. Frédéric Benoit, psychiatrist

For teens experiencing emotional distress that is causing them to suffer and preventing them from functioning on a normal level, it’s important to contact a health care professional. A family doctor or psychotherapist can provide informed guidance on whether treatment may be necessary.

A proper medical assessment will allow your health care professional to recommend the appropriate treatments. These may include: 

  • Natural remedies, like improving lifestyle habits, to counteract teenage anxiety
  • Psychotherapy (in the case of a family conflict, for example)
  • Anxiety or depression medication for teens (particularly when there is a family history of psychological disorders)

What recognized psychotherapy treatments are often prescribed for teens?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and its variants

CBT is generally a short-term treatment done over 10 or 15 sessions. It consists in challenging and reframing thoughts that are at the root of maladaptive behaviours. 

It helps teens learn to:
• Consider a situation from different angles, in order to take a step back from their thoughts and emotions 
• Manage their anxiety through relaxation techniques 
• Adopt behaviours that support their mental health and well-being (physical activity, healthy sleeping habits, etc.)

Scientific studies on depressed and anxious teens have shown that CBT is a particularly effective treatment.

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is another available option. A variation of CBT, ACT focuses on personal growth and helps patients accept what is beyond their control.
• Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), which is based on Buddhist principles such as self-compassion and meditation, helps patients improve their emotional regulation and has proven to be successful in reducing stress and treating depression.

Family systems therapy

This type of therapy focuses on the relationships, both past and present, that the teen has with their family, with the ultimate goal of fostering a positive connection with loved ones. The family is invited to join in on certain sessions and, in doing so, obtain valuable information on the problems or disorder their teen is experiencing.

Existential-humanistic therapy or supportive therapy

This approach is based on the idea that all humans inherently possess the necessary resources to take on life’s challenges. It focuses on supporting the individual going through a crisis and helping them find the answers they need. It is the therapy approach most commonly recommended for teens. 

Psychodynamic therapy

Heavily influenced by psychoanalysis, this approach has the teen sit down face to face with the psychotherapist to discuss their personal and family history and learn how their past experiences and relationships relate to their current difficulties. 

WHAT MEDICATIONS ARE MOST COMMONLY PRESCRIBED TO TREAT ANXIETY DISORDERS AND DEPRESSION IN TEENS?

When used in combination with psychotherapy, the following medications have been shown to improve quality of life in teens. 

Antidepressants

Used for many years to treat depression and anxiety in teens, antidepressants help relieve symptoms by regulating the brain’s chemical balance.

This serves to:
• Reduce negative emotions
• Improve memory and concentration
• Relieve physical discomfort caused by anxiety, including headaches, digestive problems, and muscle tension

Anxiolytics

This type of medication is designed to reduce anxiety symptoms. More commonly prescribed to adults than teenagers, anxiolytics help reduce stress and promote restful sleep. To avoid overdependence, they are generally prescribed for short-term use, while the individual waits for the effects of antidepressants or psychotherapy to kick in. Certain types of medication, called hypnotics, are used only to promote sleep and have no effect on anxiety. 

To learn more about treatment options, talk to your family doctor. Other types of medication may also be recommended to address more agitated or aggressive behaviour or to treat other disorders, such as attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, or psychosis. 

REMEMBER!

If a teen is in crisis and is acting aggressively or out of control,

go to your nearest emergency room or call Suicide Action at 1-866-277-3553. (Free, confidential service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.)

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References

Ben Amor, Leila, et al. Troubles mentaux chez les enfants et les adolescents : Prévenir, repérer tôt, intervenir. Éditions CHU Sainte-Justine, 2017. 

Gouvernement du Québec. “Troubles anxieux.” Gouvernement du Québec. Accessed August 10, 2019. https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/mental-health-mental-illness/anxiety-disorders/.  

Ordre des psychologues du Québec. “Orientations Théoriques – Ordre Des Psychologues Du Québec – OPQ.” Ordre des psychologues du Québec. Accessed August 10, 2020. https://www.ordrepsy.qc.ca/fr/orientations-theoriques-psychotherapie.