Psychological distress
Adolescence is a key time, full of opportunities and discoveries, but it can also be a time when teens are more susceptible to anxiety and depression.
On this page, you will find practical information for better understanding young people’s mental health, distinguishing between the blues and depression, counselling a teenager who is going through a difficult time and helping a young person in distress. To better guide you, all our content is organized by level: the higher the level, the more it represents an advanced level of practice.
Our pamphlets (5)
LEVEL 1: SPECIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN TEENS FOR SCHOOLS
Info sheetLearn how to respond when faced with psychological distress with our comprehensive mini-guide!
Download
Level 1: Understanding adolescent depression
Info sheetA brochure that explains the 4 steps to helping a young person with depression: Observe, Talk, Help, Persevere.
Download
LEVEL 2: STUDENT PAMPHLET: SELF-TALK FOR TURBULENT TIMES
Info sheetAn info sheet to help your students develop calming self-talk when they are going through a crisis.
Download
LEVEL 2: STUDENT PAMPHLET: UMBRELLA STRATEGIES
Info sheetAn info sheet to help your students regain their composure and ground themselves when they are going through a crisis.
Download
TEACHER INFO SHEET "PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS BAROMETER"
Info sheetA summary table you can refer to to help you “situate” a teen whose behaviour or language worries you.
DownloadTeen mental health quiz
Depression or the blues? Have your young people do a preliminary assessment
If a young person you know is wondering if they are going through a simple bout of the blues or depression, here are 6 questions to help them decide. Please note that this questionnaire is not a substitute for a consultation with a health professional; this is the only way to make a diagnosis.
Start the quizOUR ARTICLES (11)
Understanding mental health
The concept of “mental health” is not always well understood by the general public. It can sometimes be subject to misconceptions, especially when it comes to adolescents. Here, you can find out what adolescent mental health is and the related issues.
Read the article
WORRISOME ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOUR: WHEN SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED
Are you worried about a young person but not sure if it’s just the blues or depression? Find out how to tell the difference and learn more about depression.
Read the article
HOW TO HELP A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIENCING PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES
Does a young person you know seem to need help but you don’t know what to do? Read our advice on how to start a conversation with your teenager and gently lead them toward therapy.
Read the article
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU DEAL WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
Has a teenager come to you with their distress and you are looking for resources to help them? Here are many resources to share with them.
Read the article
TEEN DEPRESSION: MORE THAN ONE POSSIBLE TREATMENT
Find out the various psychotherapies available to treat psychological distress, as well as the medications that are commonly prescribed.
Read the article
BETTER UNDERSTANDING TEEN SELF-HARM
Self-harm is a deeply troubling practice to adults. Although it is considered an extreme and marginal behaviour, self-harm affects an increasing number of young people. Here, you can find out what self-harm really is and how to deal with it.
Read the article
Helping your child cope with anxiety
In this article, learn how to help your teens better manage their anxiety and provide positive support.
Read the article
WHILE WAITING FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY TO BEGIN
Learn how to support a young person who is waiting for psychotherapy.
Read the article
TALKING TO YOUR TEEN ABOUT PSYCHOTHERAPY
Adolescence is a time of transition, with many physical, psychological and social transformations, which lead to a major reorganization in young people’s brains. Sometimes, when a teen is going through a particularly difficult time, it may be necessary to take them to a psychotherapist. Learn how to talk to them about it here.
Read the article
Preparing for the first visit to a psychotherapist
Find several tips for helping a young person entering psychotherapy and their loved ones prepare for the first visit.
Read the article
ADOPTING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE DURING PSYCHOTHERAPY
Learn how to behave, what tone to use and how much distance to maintain with a young person entering psychotherapy.
Read the articleOUR VIDEOS (6)
Level 1 : 15 questions about depression
Watch as psychologist Florence Marcil-Denault offers explanations and advice, answering 15 questions from parents about depression with host Anaïs Favron.
Only available in French
Do you want to know more about depression? Here is an additional webcast on our partner’s website, aidersonenfant.com.
View videoLevel 1 : Personal accounts of depression
Listen to Élisabeth and author Marie Darsigny talk about their experience with depression! They discuss the tools they have developed to manage it better.
Only available in French
Parfaitement imparfait
Video: Only available in French
ALL VIDEOS
OUR WEBCASTS (3)
Only available in French
WELCOMING THE FOUNDATION INTO YOUR SCHOOL
PARTNERS FOR LIFE WORKSHOP
For more than 20 years, our flagship Partners for Life workshop has been raising awareness of teen depression among young people aged 14 to 18 (Grade 9 to 11), parents, teachers and other professionals who work with youth. During this workshop, young people learn about:
- The importance of being in good mental health
- The difference between having the blues and being depressed
- The signs and symptoms of depression
- Available resources for getting help for themselves or for someone else
External resources (2)
Mental health
Find tips and educational activities on teen mental health in the Canadian Mental Health Association’s AdapT guide.
Learn more
Blues program
Boscoville’s BLUES program—which includes a questionnaire, 6 group workshops and a web platform—aims to prevent depression in young people ages 12 to 18 who are experiencing the first signs of it and to keep it from getting worse.
Only available in French.
Check out the program