5 tips to help support your teen’s overall well-being

The teenage years aren’t easy, no matter what. Teenagers are dealing with hormones, body changes, grades, social activities, and the impending pressure of leaving the nest. These changes can have an impact on their physical and mental health, both of which contribute to their overall well-being.¹

Mental wellness in adults is at its lowest point in the past seven years, but mental health struggles aren’t exclusive to adults.² Sixteen percent of America’s youth between the ages of 12 and 17 suffered from one or more major depressive episode in the past year, and 6% have a substance use disorder.³ Unfortunately, teens’ physical wellness isn’t thriving either. Research shows that only 45% of high school students in the US get an hour or more of exercise a day for five or more days in the week, and only 23% sleep for eight hours or more on a typical school night.⁴

If you have a teenager, the following tips outline how to help support their overall well-being.

1. Consult a health professional

No matter if it’s a physical need or a mental one, it’s always a good idea to consult a health professional. More than half of teens with major depression don’t receive any treatment, leaving them to struggle alone.⁵ If your teen is showing behavioral changes that have raised red flags, speak with a professional: It doesn’t have to be a “big deal,” just a preventative action to ensure all is well. If an issue is identified, then it can be taken from there.

2. Build a support network

You want your home to be a warm and positive environment for your teen. Establish responsibilities, boundaries, a reliable framework, and trust. Support them in their endeavors, encourage autonomy, and help them develop healthy habits. As their parent or guardian, they probably look up to you as a role model, so taking care of yourself can also help model healthy behavior.

Also, encourage a positive network of peers, whether it’s friends from school, sports or other extracurricular activities. If your teen is already struggling with mental health, it can be helpful for them to participate in prevention or support programs that facilitate social interactions and help build emotional well-being.

3. Instill life skills

A great way to help teens establish autonomy and confidence is by teaching them life skills that aren’t taught at school: Help them learn how to cook, repair things around the house, take care of a car, and manage their time. These skills can help them feel more confident about stepping out on their own as a young adult, which can help to ease anxieties they may not even know they have.

4. Create an exercise plan

Physical health is a key component to your teen’s overall well-being, and it’s recommended that teens get an hour or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity nearly every day.⁶ Regular exercise can help improve blood circulation, prevent high blood pressure, fight anxiety, and more.⁷ So, create an exercise plan with your teen to help replace static screen times with healthier activities.

5. Teach them about financial literacy

Financial wellness is a significant contributor to overall well-being. There are resources, such as books or even public courses from universities, that cover basic financial literacy. Or, you could start at home and try these four simple strategies to help teens develop their financial responsibility:

• Start saving: It’s never too early to start saving and protecting your future. When your teen receives money for their birthday, or a paycheck from their job, have them set aside a certain percentage every time.

• Understand the cost of living: Talk with them about the household bills and divide them by the number of people in the family to give them an idea of how much they would be responsible for. This can help them understand what it takes to cover basic necessities when they go out on their own.

• Track spending: It’s essential to understand where your money goes. Have your teen keep track of how much money they receive and how much they spend. Review their spending together and guide them to consider better ways to use their money.

• Educate on personal finance: Teach them about how credit, interest, and investments work. By educating your teen, they may be equipped to make better decisions, such as managing their credit well and having a good credit score as they grow older.

It’s important for teens to start developing healthy habits — physical, mental, and financial — while living in a supportive environment where they feel comfortable. This can help them prepare for the realities of living on their own one day, so they’re equipped to deal with the added stress that comes with being an adult.