Additional Factors in Adolescence Eating Disorders
Adolescence is a time of emotional development
and emotional vulnerability." Adolescence is
when the symptoms of many mental illnesses
first appear. One-half of all chronic mental illness
begins by the age of 14; three-quarters by age 24.
Some of the reasons that may put young people
at risk include the following:
driving drunk may result in trouble with
the law, and sexual risk taking may result
in pregnancy or sexually transmitted
infections, eating disorders.
• Increased independence can provoke anxiety
in some young people as can the pressure to
achieve at school and elsewhere.
• Involvement in child welfare or juvenile
justice or experiencing homelessness
or extreme poverty may lead to the
development of mental health challenges.
• Withdrawal from family, friends, and school
can delay social development.
• Lack of concentration and motivation can
lead to difficulties in cognitive development
and educational achievement. Delays in
completing education can have long term
ramifications. It can be difficult to return
to education later in life, and self-esteem,
which might be lost because of a failure
to complete education on time, can be
hard to recover.
Mental health challenges can negatively affect
adolescent development in the following ways:
• Sexual orientation and gender identity may
lead youth who identify as LGBTQ to feel as
though they do not fit in and may increase
their risk of being bullied or harassed,
which can lead to depression.
• Orientation toward peers can lead young
people to do things they would not
otherwise do, such as experiment with
alcohol and other drugs, and can also
lead to distress about not fitting in with
a desired peer group.
• Concerns about appearance may lead
to increased depression, anxiety,
and dieting, which may result in the
development of an eating disorder.
• Hormonal changes may make youth more
prone to emotional extremes. Young
people, particularly girls, become more
prone to depression and anxiety food disorders.
• Experimenting with alcohol and other
drugs can lead to a substance use
disorder or other mental health challenge
or disorder.
• Increased risk taking behavior may result
in major adverse life events, which may
lead to the development of a mental
health challenge or disorder. For example,
• Use of alcohol and other drugs can
interfere with normal brain development."
• Dramatic weight loss can lead to problems
with fertility in the long term, because it can
interrupt normal menstruation and interfere
with normal brain development.
disabilities fall into the mild category and many
achieve academic success. Others may need more
supports.
Youth with autism spectrum disorders (autism,
Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental
disorder) have difficulties with social communication
and connection, along with limited interests or
repetitive behaviors. Individuals with autism spectrum
disorders may have an intellectual disability or be well
above average in intelligence. They mayor may not
have problems understanding language or expressing
themselves, but they may also have unusual speech
patterns or repeat words or phrases. They may have
unusual movements or responses to sounds, sights,
and touch or express discomfort with change. Seizures,
intense anxiety, and difficulty paying attention are
common.
Youth with intellectual or developmental disorders,
including- autism, are at greater risk of mental
health problems, bullying, and traumatic abuse.
First aiders should not assume that behavior
problems are the result of the developmental
disorder, because a mental health disorder or
medical problem may also be involved.
Speaking with a young person with a developmental
disability may be easier if the first aider
• Shows respect by talking to the young person
directly, rather than to caregivers.
• Creates a calm environment (uses a soft voice,
turns off bright lights, turns off music or loud
noises, avoids touching the person, uses
nonthreatening body language, etc.).
• Does not interrupt repetitive behaviors (e.g.,
rocking, loud talk) if no one is getting hurt; these
may be calming for the young person.
• Uses short phrases, speaks slowly, and gives the
person time to answer. Gives one instruction at a
time and uses pictures and gestures. If the young
person does not follow requests, they may not
understand or may not hear.
• Avoids leading questions, because youth may try
to give the answer they think you want.
• Ensures you both understand each other, but do
not pretend you understand if you do not.
• Prepares the youth for each step of what will
happen next.
For additional resources for an individual with a
developmental disability, the first aider can find their
state's University Center for Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities (www.aucd.org) or Protection and Advocacy
Center (www.napas.org). If the young person has an
autism spectrum disorder, additional resources may
be located through the local chapter of the Autism
Society of America (www.autism-society.org). Other
resources include
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Office on Disability (tips for first responders, various
disabilities). It is important to remember that most youth pass
through adolescence with relatively little difficulty
despite all of these challenges. When youth encounter
difficulties, they tend to be quite resilient-to thrive,
mature, and increase their competence.
Recovery from mental health and substance use
disorders is a "process of change through which an
individual achieves improved health, wellness, and
quality of life." Recovery refers to both the attitudes
and experiences of the individuals receiving care
as well as the circumstances, events, policies, and
practices that support them. The box below lists the
guiding principles of recovery.":
Many factors contribute to resiliency. These factors
may be called protective factors. Protective factors
include strong family and social supports and the
natural ability of youth and children to adapt to new
situations.
First aiders have the opportunity to be a
part of an environment that is supportive of youth
and facilitate early intervention for any developing
mental health challenges to help ensure that young
people have the chance to enjoy a happy adolescence
Specific protective factors for certain mental health
challenges are outlined throughout Section 2, and
may include the following:
• Healthy practices, quality food
• Good problem solving skills
• Feeling of control in their own life
• Spirituality
• Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
• Consistent home/family routine
• Parental/familial support
• High monitoring of youth's activities
• Regular school attendance and academic
performance
• Having a good social support system
• Economic security
• Availability of constructive recreation
• Community bonding
• Feeling close to at least one adult
• Recovery self-redefinition.
• Recovery has cultural dimensions.
• Recovery involves
• and (re)building
and emotional vulnerability." Adolescence is
when the symptoms of many mental illnesses
first appear. One-half of all chronic mental illness
begins by the age of 14; three-quarters by age 24.
Some of the reasons that may put young people
at risk include the following:
driving drunk may result in trouble with
the law, and sexual risk taking may result
in pregnancy or sexually transmitted
infections, eating disorders.
• Increased independence can provoke anxiety
in some young people as can the pressure to
achieve at school and elsewhere.
• Involvement in child welfare or juvenile
justice or experiencing homelessness
or extreme poverty may lead to the
development of mental health challenges.
• Withdrawal from family, friends, and school
can delay social development.
• Lack of concentration and motivation can
lead to difficulties in cognitive development
and educational achievement. Delays in
completing education can have long term
ramifications. It can be difficult to return
to education later in life, and self-esteem,
which might be lost because of a failure
to complete education on time, can be
hard to recover.
Mental health challenges can negatively affect
adolescent development in the following ways:
• Sexual orientation and gender identity may
lead youth who identify as LGBTQ to feel as
though they do not fit in and may increase
their risk of being bullied or harassed,
which can lead to depression.
• Orientation toward peers can lead young
people to do things they would not
otherwise do, such as experiment with
alcohol and other drugs, and can also
lead to distress about not fitting in with
a desired peer group.
• Concerns about appearance may lead
to increased depression, anxiety,
and dieting, which may result in the
development of an eating disorder.
• Hormonal changes may make youth more
prone to emotional extremes. Young
people, particularly girls, become more
prone to depression and anxiety food disorders.
• Experimenting with alcohol and other
drugs can lead to a substance use
disorder or other mental health challenge
or disorder.
• Increased risk taking behavior may result
in major adverse life events, which may
lead to the development of a mental
health challenge or disorder. For example,
• Use of alcohol and other drugs can
interfere with normal brain development."
• Dramatic weight loss can lead to problems
with fertility in the long term, because it can
interrupt normal menstruation and interfere
with normal brain development.
disabilities fall into the mild category and many
achieve academic success. Others may need more
supports.
Youth with autism spectrum disorders (autism,
Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental
disorder) have difficulties with social communication
and connection, along with limited interests or
repetitive behaviors. Individuals with autism spectrum
disorders may have an intellectual disability or be well
above average in intelligence. They mayor may not
have problems understanding language or expressing
themselves, but they may also have unusual speech
patterns or repeat words or phrases. They may have
unusual movements or responses to sounds, sights,
and touch or express discomfort with change. Seizures,
intense anxiety, and difficulty paying attention are
common.
Youth with intellectual or developmental disorders,
including- autism, are at greater risk of mental
health problems, bullying, and traumatic abuse.
First aiders should not assume that behavior
problems are the result of the developmental
disorder, because a mental health disorder or
medical problem may also be involved.
Speaking with a young person with a developmental
disability may be easier if the first aider
• Shows respect by talking to the young person
directly, rather than to caregivers.
• Creates a calm environment (uses a soft voice,
turns off bright lights, turns off music or loud
noises, avoids touching the person, uses
nonthreatening body language, etc.).
• Does not interrupt repetitive behaviors (e.g.,
rocking, loud talk) if no one is getting hurt; these
may be calming for the young person.
• Uses short phrases, speaks slowly, and gives the
person time to answer. Gives one instruction at a
time and uses pictures and gestures. If the young
person does not follow requests, they may not
understand or may not hear.
• Avoids leading questions, because youth may try
to give the answer they think you want.
• Ensures you both understand each other, but do
not pretend you understand if you do not.
• Prepares the youth for each step of what will
happen next.
For additional resources for an individual with a
developmental disability, the first aider can find their
state's University Center for Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities (www.aucd.org) or Protection and Advocacy
Center (www.napas.org). If the young person has an
autism spectrum disorder, additional resources may
be located through the local chapter of the Autism
Society of America (www.autism-society.org). Other
resources include
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Office on Disability (tips for first responders, various
disabilities). It is important to remember that most youth pass
through adolescence with relatively little difficulty
despite all of these challenges. When youth encounter
difficulties, they tend to be quite resilient-to thrive,
mature, and increase their competence.
Recovery from mental health and substance use
disorders is a "process of change through which an
individual achieves improved health, wellness, and
quality of life." Recovery refers to both the attitudes
and experiences of the individuals receiving care
as well as the circumstances, events, policies, and
practices that support them. The box below lists the
guiding principles of recovery.":
Many factors contribute to resiliency. These factors
may be called protective factors. Protective factors
include strong family and social supports and the
natural ability of youth and children to adapt to new
situations.
First aiders have the opportunity to be a
part of an environment that is supportive of youth
and facilitate early intervention for any developing
mental health challenges to help ensure that young
people have the chance to enjoy a happy adolescence
Specific protective factors for certain mental health
challenges are outlined throughout Section 2, and
may include the following:
• Healthy practices, quality food
- Eating self control
• Good problem solving skills
• Feeling of control in their own life
• Spirituality
• Avoiding alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
• Consistent home/family routine
• Parental/familial support
• High monitoring of youth's activities
• Regular school attendance and academic
performance
• Having a good social support system
• Economic security
• Availability of constructive recreation
• Community bonding
• Feeling close to at least one adult
• Recovery self-redefinition.
• Recovery has cultural dimensions.
• Recovery involves
• and (re)building