True or False
Depression always presents with sadness as the main symptom.
False. While sadness is common, depression can also manifest as irritability, numbness, fatigue, or physical symptoms like pain without an identifiable cause.
This is the body’s “fight or flight” emotion that often comes with a racing heart.
What is anxiety?
This professional is trained to listen and provide support for mental health concerns in schools.
Who is a school counselor?
This technique involves systematically tensing and then releasing muscle groups to help reduce both physical and mental tension
What is Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)?
In this stage, adolescents may experiment with different hobbies, styles, and activities as they explore who they are and what they enjoy.
What is identity exploration?
Anxiety can only be diagnosed when there is an obvious stressor or cause.
False. Anxiety disorders can exist without a clear external cause and are often more about internal processes than external stressors.
The name for when you’re feeling sad, tired, or uninterested for more than two weeks.
What is depression?
This three-digit number in the U.S. is a hotline for mental health emergencies.
What is 988?
When feeling overwhelmed by a major issue, breaking it down into smaller, manageable tasks is part of this approach to coping.
What is Problem Solving?
This phase of adolescence involves increased attention to finding a unique style or personal expression, often reflected in clothing, music, or hobbies
What is self-expression?
Only teens who express obvious signs of distress, like crying or withdrawing, are at risk for mental health issues.
False. Some teens may internalize symptoms or show signs through irritability, poor school performance, or changes in sleep or eating habits rather than overt distress.
This is the ability to understand and share someone else’s feelings.
What is empathy?
True or False: Only adolescents with diagnosed mental health issues can benefit from mental health support resources.
False. Adolescents don’t need a diagnosis to benefit from mental health resources. Many teens find support beneficial for managing stress, developing coping skills, and enhancing well-being.
This daily practice involves noting a few things you’re thankful for to shift focus from stressors to positive aspects of life.
What is a gratitude practice?
This type of sleep, often disrupted during adolescence, is essential for memory, mood regulation, and overall mental health.
What is REM sleep?
Self-harm behaviors, like cutting, are always a sign of intent of wanting to die.
False. While self-harm can sometimes be associated with suicidal ideation, it’s often a way of coping with emotional pain rather than an indication of suicidal intent. However, it should always be taken seriously.
Is a feeling of concern for someone who is going through a difficult time.
What is sympathy?
True or False: Group therapy is generally less effective than individual therapy for adolescents.
False. Group therapy can be highly effective for adolescents, offering peer support, social skills training, and shared understanding, which can be particularly meaningful at this age.
This sensory-based strategy is used in moments of high anxiety to anchor awareness, utilizing a series of tangible observations tied to each sense in a countdown format.
What is 5-4-3-2-1
This area of social development includes a heightened focus on fitting in with peers, which can sometimes conflict with family values or expectations.
What is social conformity or peer influence?
Hearing voices for some folks can be a natural stress response, and does not indicate psychosis.
True, around 5-15% of the population can hear voices at some point in their lives.
This is the process of acknowledging and accepting another person's feelings without judgment or criticism
What is emotional validation?
True or False: In Pennsylvania, individuals aged 14 and older have the legal right to consent to their own mental health treatment without the need for parental consent or notification. This means that if you are 14 or older, you can seek therapy or mental health services confidentially, and your parents do not have to be informed.
True.
However, there are certain exceptions where confidentiality may be breached:
Risk of Harm: If the therapist believes you are at risk of harming yourself or others, they are legally obligated to take steps to ensure safety, which may include notifying your parents or guardians.
Abuse Reporting: If there is suspicion of abuse, therapists are mandated reporters and must inform appropriate authorities, which could lead to parental notification.
It's important to discuss confidentiality policies with your therapist at the beginning of treatment to understand the specific circumstances under which information might be shared.
This cognitive technique involves replacing critical thoughts with more encouraging statements to improve self-esteem and counter negativity.
What is positive self-talk?
This part of the brain, responsible for impulse control and decision-making, is still developing during adolescence and won’t fully mature until the mid-20s.
What is the prefrontal cortex (PFC)?