Adolescence is a stage of life characterized by changes in young people’s physical, cognitive, and social and emotional development. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds. Adolescence is a crucial period for developing social and emotional habits important for mental well-being. Emotional disorders are common among adolescents like Anxiety, Depression, Suicide. Behavioural disorders are more common among younger adolescents than older adolescents. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, commonly emerge during adolescence and young adulthood. Conditions that include symptoms of psychosis most commonly emerge in late adolescence or early adulthood. Symptoms can include hallucinations or delusions. A wide range of early risk and protective factors influence mental health outcomes.

1. Transition from Adolescence to
Adulthood
Mental Health and Emotional Well Being
Dr. Vinay Kumar Gupta
Uttar Pradesh University of
Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah

2. Adolescence is a stage
of life characterized
by changes in young
people’s physical,
cognitive, and social
and emotional
development.

3. Adolescence as a life
stage was first
recognized in the 20th
century, and is now
understood by the
WHO and many
countries as the ages
between 10 and 19.

4. • Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds
experiences a mental disorder, accounting for
13% of the global burden of disease in this age
group.
• Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders
are among the leading causes of illness and
disability among adolescents.
• Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death
among 15-29 year-olds.
Key Notes

5. Adolescenceis a
unique and
formative time.
INTRODUCTION

6. • Physical, emotional and social changes, including exposure
to poverty, abuse, or violence, can make adolescents
vulnerable to mental health problems.
• Protecting adolescents from adversity, promoting socio-
emotional learning and psychological well-being, and
ensuring access to mental health care are critical for their
health and well-being during adolescence and adulthood.

7. • Globally, it is estimated that 1 in 7 (14%) 10-19 year-olds
experience mental health conditions, yet these remain
largely unrecognized and untreated.
• Adolescents with mental health conditions are particularly
vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, stigma
(affecting readiness to seek help), educational difficulties,
risk-taking behaviours, physical ill-health and human rights
violations.

8. Mental health
determinants
Adolescence is a crucial period
for developing social and
emotional habits important for
mental well-being.

9. • These include adopting healthy sleep patterns; exercising
regularly; developing coping, problem-solving, and
interpersonal skills; and learning to manage emotions.
Protective and supportive environments in the family, at
school and in the wider community are important.
• Multiple factors affect mental health. The more risk factors
adolescents are exposed to, the greater the potential
impact on their mental health.

10. Emotional disorders
are
common among adolescents
Anxiety
Depression
Suicide
Emotional
disorders

11. • Anxiety disorders (which may involve panic or excessive
worry) are the most prevalent in this age group and are
more common among older than among younger
adolescents.
• It is estimated that 3.6% of 10-14 year-olds and 4.6% of 15-
19 year-olds experience an anxiety disorder.
• Depression is estimated to occur among 1.1% of
adolescents aged 10-14 years, and 2.8% of 15-19-year-
olds.

12. • Depression and anxiety share some of the same
symptoms, including rapid and unexpected changes in
mood.
• Anxiety and depressive disorders can profoundly affect
school attendance and schoolwork. Social withdrawal can
exacerbate isolation and loneliness. Depression can lead to
suicide.

13. Behavioural
disorders
Behavioural disorders
are more common
among younger
adolescents
than older adolescents

14. • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
characterized by difficulty paying attention, excessive
activity and acting without regard to consequences, occurs
among 3.1% of 10-14 year-olds and 2.4% of 15-19 year-
olds.
• Conduct disorder (involving symptoms of destructive or
challenging behaviour) occurs among 3.6% of 10-14 year-
olds and 2.4% of 15-19 year-olds.
• Behavioural disorders can affect adolescents’ education
and conduct disorder may result in criminal behaviour.

15. Eating
disorders
Eating disorders, such as
anorexia nervosa and
bulimia nervosa,
commonly emerge during
adolescence and young
adulthood.

16. • Eating disorders involve abnormal eating behaviour and
preoccupation with food, accompanied in most instances by
concerns about body weight and shape.
• Anorexia nervosa can lead to premature death, often due to
medical complications or suicide, and has higher mortality
than any other mental disorder.

17. Psychosis
disorders
Conditions that include symptoms of psychosis
most commonly emerge in late adolescence or
early adulthood. Symptoms can include
hallucinations or delusions.

18. • Suicide is the fourth leading
cause of death in older
adolescents (15-19 years).
• Risk factors for suicide are
multifaceted, and include
harmful use of alcohol, abuse in
childhood, stigma against help-
seeking, barriers to accessing
care and access to means of
suicide.
• Digital media, like any other
media, can play a significant role
in either enhancing or weakening
suicide prevention efforts.
Suicide and
self-harm

19. Risk-taking
behaviours
A wide range of
early risk and
protective
factors influence
mental health
outcomes

20. • Many risk-taking behaviours for health, such as substance
use or sexual risk-taking, start during adolescence. Risk-
taking behaviours can be an unhelpful strategy to cope with
emotional difficulties and can severely impact an
adolescent’s mental and physical well-being.
• Worldwide, the prevalence of heavy episodic drinking
among adolescents aged 1519 years was 13.6%, with
males most at risk.

21. • The use of tobacco and cannabis are additional concerns.
Many adult smokers had their first cigarette prior to the age
of 15 years. Cannabis is the most widely used drug among
young people with about 4.7% of 15-16 years-olds.
• Perpetration of violence is a risk-taking behaviour that can
increase the likelihood of low educational attainment, injury,
involvement with crime or death. Interpersonal violence
was ranked among the leading causes of death of older
adolescent boys in 2019.

22. Promotion
and
prevention
Mental health promotion
and prevention
interventions aim
to strengthen an
individual's capacity to
regulate emotions.

23. • Enhance alternatives to risk-taking behaviours, build
resilience for managing difficult situations and adversity,
and promote supportive social environments and social
networks.
• These programmes require a multi-level approach with
varied delivery platforms – for example, digital media,
health or social care settings, schools or the community –
and varied strategies to reach adolescents, particularly the
most vulnerable.

24. Early detection
and treatment
Mental health
includes our
emotional,
psychological, and
social well-being. It
affects how we think,
feel, and act.

25. • It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to
others, and make choices. Mental health is important at
every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence
through adulthood.
• Over the course of your life, if you experience mental health
problems, your thinking, mood, and behaviour could be
affected.

26. Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or
behaviours can be an early warning sign of a problem:
• Eating or sleeping too much or too little
• Having low or no energy
• Feeling helpless or hopeless
• Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
• Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry,
upset, worried, or scared
• Yelling or fighting with family and friends
• Having persistent thoughts and memories you can't get
out of your head
• Thinking of harming yourself or others

27. There are many ways to improve or
maintain good mental health.

28. • Be aware of your emotions and reactions.
Notice what in your life makes you sad, frustrated, or angry.
Try to address or change those things.
• Express your feelings in appropriate ways.
Let people close to you know when something is bothering
you. Keeping feelings of sadness or anger inside adds to
stress. It can cause problems in your relationships and at
work or school.
• Think before you act.
Give yourself time to think and be calm before you say or
do something you might regret.

29. • Manage stress.
Learn relaxation methods to cope with stress. These could
include deep breathing, meditation, and exercise.
• Strive for balance.
Find a healthy balance between study and play, and
between activity and rest. Make time for things you enjoy.
Focus on positive things in your life.
• Take care of your physical health.
Exercise regularly, eat healthy meals, and get enough
sleep. Don’t abuse drugs or alcohol. Keep your physical
health from affecting your mental health.

30. • Connect with others.
Make a lunch date, join a group, and say hi to strangers.
We need positive connections with other people.
• Find purpose and meaning.
Figure out what’s important to you in life, and focus on that.
This could be your work, your family, volunteering, care-
giving, or something else. Spend your time doing what feels
meaningful to you.
• Stay positive.
Focus on the good things in your life. Forgive yourself for
making mistakes and forgive others. Spend time with
healthy, positive people.