Warning Signs

Here are some common warning signs that an adolescent patient may be developing a mental health disorder.

Mental Health Disorder Warning Signs

Physical Complaints:

• Headaches
• Stomach aches
• Nausea / vomiting
• Shortness of breath
• Palpitations
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Weight loss/gain
• Trouble sleeping
• Fatigue

Behavior Changes:

• Loss of interest in activities formerly enjoyed
• Drop in school performance
• Change in friends; worsening family relationships; social withdrawal
• Delinquent behavior
• Inability to concentrate; indecisiveness
• Feelings of hopelessness / helplessness
• Irritability; moodiness; excessive worry or guilt
• Low self-esteem

Suicide Warning Signs & Risk Factors

• Depression
• Previous suicide attempts
• Recent losses
• Frequent thoughts about death
• Use of drugs or alcohol
• Statements like “Nothing matters” or “I won’t be a problem for you anymore.”
• Giving away favorite possessions
• Suddenly cheerful after a long period of sadness

OARS

When you notice signs like these, there are some proven Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques for encouraging a patient to open up so you can further assess the need for a mental health referral: open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries, collectively known as the OARS techniques.

• Open-ended questions require more than a yes-or-no answer and encourage individuals to share their feelings, experiences, and perspectives.
• Affirmations highlight an individual’s genuine strengths and values that may lead them to make positive changes. Try to avoid phrasing affirmations as positive judgments, like “You’re doing great!” which suggests that you are in a place of authority to determine what is good and bad. Instead focus on the strengths and values of the individual.
• Reflections are statements that summarize the individual’s narrative without adding any judgment. Reflections show adolescents you’re listening and trying to understand, encourage them to keep sharing, and create a judgment-free space where they feel free to explore their pro-change attitudes.
• Summaries combine different points made by the patient. They check your understanding of what the person has said and are useful transitions between various points of the conversation.