This may be a time of great stress and mental health difficulty for your teen.
Make time daily to check-in with your teen and be aware of symptoms of depression/anxiety that might go beyond normal teenage sadness:
Physical complaints. Stomachaches, headaches, or other vague physical symptoms can be associated with depression.
Social withdrawal. If teens begin to completely isolate from parents, start to isolate from peers, or change peer groups entirely, this might be a sign of depression .
Academic decline. A striking drop in academic performance or motivation, in conjunction with other symptoms, may indicate depression.
Substance use. While some level of experimentation may be normal in adolescence, depressed youth are likely to attempt to self-medicate through the use of these substances.
Self-criticism. An increase in frequency and intensity of negative self-statements, such as “I’m so stupid!” or “I can’t do anything right!” may also be a sign of depression.