This document discusses adolescent mental health and development. It defines adolescence as the transitional period between childhood and adulthood, characterized by rapid brain growth. The adolescent brain develops in all areas as grey matter increases and pruning occurs to strengthen connectivity. While memory, language, reasoning and social skills improve during adolescence, difficulties with emotion regulation, reward-seeking, planning and an obsession with self can also occur due to neural and hormonal changes. Many social and organizational factors impact adolescent mental health and present barriers to receiving needed support.

1. ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH
TSHEBELETSO SELEBALO

2. WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE?
•The period of development and adjustments
during the transitional period between childhood
and adulthood.
•The significant and critical period of an individual’s
development characterized by rapid growth of the
brain.

3. THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN
Brain develops in all
areas
Brain develops from
back to front
Increase in grey
matter
Pruning occurs
Greater connectivity
within the brain
Myelin is
strengthened
Hormone balance
undergoes upheaval
Hormone balance
undergoes
alteration.

4. ADVANTAGES
OF ADOLESCENCE
Increased memory
Improving language
Abstract thinking
Scientific reasoning
Perspective-taking
Greater social awareness

5. DISADVANTAGES OF ADOLESCENCE
•Reconstruction of neural connections settle down
after a long time
•Difficulties with emotion regulation
•Balance of hormone may result in the pushing for
rewards and novelty
•Thinking ahead cab be hard
•There is an obsession with the self

7. Numerous social, interpersonal, individual, and
organizational factors impend on the mental
and emotional wellness of adolescents. Several
of these factors also generate barriers to
adolescents receiving the mental health
support they need.

8. SUPPORT PROVISIONS

10. REFERENCE LIST
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