Helping Your Teen Maintain Good Mental Health

Teen's Mental HealthRaising teenagers can be rewarding and challenging at the same time. You want your teenager to grow up healthy but you also want to take time to ensure that their wellbeing is also being nurtured. As any pediatrician will tell you, a teen’s mental health is just as important as their physical wellbeing.

Being a teenager is tough. There is a lot of social and academic pressure to think about. They are developing into the adults they are going to become. It’s important that parents understand the best ways to ensure good mental health is sustained throughout those tumultuous teen years.

Most parents would agree that they want a teen who is relatively happy and positive about life and who feels good about what they are accomplishing. Ways to foster positive mental health in your child include:

  • Displaying regular signs of love, devotion and care
  • Taking an active interest in your teen’s life including what they say and what they do
  • Providing them with a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to share their feelings
  • Dealing with issues as soon as they arise to ensure that further problems don’t happen
  • Regularly spending one-on-one time with your teen

Beyond maintaining good family dynamics, it’s important to note that physical health can also affect a child’s mental health. Exercise can be a simple and effective way to improve your child’s energy levels and focus while also keeping them fit and happy. Exercise boosts endorphins and can also improve mood. Find an activity that your teen enjoys, whether it’s a school or community sport.

Growing teens also require essential vitamins and nutrients to keep their bodies healthy and strong. Remember, their bodies haven’t fully matured yet, so it’s important that they are maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, protein and whole grains while avoiding junk food and processed foods.

Just as regular exercise and diet are essential to good mental health, so too is sleep. It’s amazing how much lack of sleep can negatively impact our energy, outlook on life and mood. Teens who don’t get enough sleep may lack the concentration and focus they need to get through the day. They may slip behind on work or they may find that they can’t handle stress as effectively. Make sure your teen is getting enough sleep each night in order to better tackle the long day ahead.

If you have concerns about your child’s mental wellbeing it’s a good time to turn to a pediatrician you can trust during these difficult times. Not only can they provide the emotional support that your family needs but they can also provide diagnostic tools and referrals for mental health professionals if your teen’s symptoms may be indicative of a mental disorder.

Questions or Comments?

At Harvest Pediatrics, we encourage you to contact us whenever you have a concern or question related to your care.
You can reach us at:


Napa: (707) 252-1076
St. Helena: (707) 963-0171

Our Location

Find us on the map

Hours of Operation

Closed daily between 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM for lunch.

Napa Office

Monday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

St. Helena Office

Monday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed