Let’s be honest. Talking about mental health can feel awkward sometimes. Maybe you’ve wanted to tell someone you’re struggling but worried they wouldn’t understand. Maybe you’ve thought about going to therapy but wondered what people would think. Or maybe you’ve told everyone you’re fine because explaining what’s actually going on feels like too much work.

Whatever it is, you’re not alone.

Sometimes, we need to hear from someone who understands mental health beyond what we see online. That’s why I had the opportunity to interview Estelle Dolan, a pediatric psychiatrist, and ask her questions about the challenges teens face today, the role parents play in our emotional well-being, and what she wants struggling teenagers to know.

I wanted to get beyond the usual advice to “just stay positive” and understand what supporting teen mental health actually looks like.

What Are the Most Common Mental Health Struggles Teens Face Today?

Being a teenager is weird. You’re expected to figure out who you are, do well in school, maintain friendships, think about your future, and somehow take care of yourself through all of it.

And that’s before adding social media, family expectations, extracurriculars, and the pressure to make everyone think you have your life together.

When I asked Dr. Dolan about the most common mental health struggles teens face today, it made me think about how much young people can be dealing with behind the scenes. Anxiety, depression, stress, and difficulties with self-esteem are important concerns when discussing adolescent mental health.

Sometimes, these struggles aren’t obvious. A teen who seems perfectly happy at school might be overwhelmed once they get home. Someone who gets good grades might still feel like they’re never doing enough. And someone who jokes around with their friends might not know how to explain what they’re feeling when they’re alone.

That’s why we shouldn’t assume we know what someone is going through just because of how they act on the outside.

You don’t have to be failing classes, crying every day, or going through a major crisis for your feelings to matter. Struggling doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.

What Are Some Common Misconceptions Teens Have About Therapy?

Let’s talk about therapy, because I think there’s still a lot of confusion surrounding it.

Some teens might believe that going to therapy means something is wrong with them. Others might think their problems aren’t serious enough to deserve help, or that talking to a therapist means they can’t handle their own emotions.

But asking for support doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re recognizing that you deserve support, just like anyone else.

You don’t need to wait until everything feels unbearable before talking to someone. Therapy can give you a space to understand your emotions, work through difficult experiences, and learn ways to cope with situations that feel overwhelming.

And no, going to therapy doesn’t mean someone else is going to magically fix your life. It’s a process, and opening up can take time. You might not know exactly what to say during your first session, and that’s okay, too.

You don’t need to walk into a therapist’s office with a perfectly organized explanation of everything you’re feeling. Sometimes, even saying, “I don’t really know what’s wrong, but I haven’t felt like myself lately,” is a place to start.

How Can Parents Better Support Their Teen’s Emotional Well-Being?

This question stood out to me because parents can have such an important influence on how teenagers understand and express their emotions.

Growing up, it can sometimes feel like adults have all the answers. But when you’re struggling, you might not necessarily want someone to immediately give you a solution. Sometimes, you just want someone to listen without judging you or turning your feelings into a lecture.

Parents can support their teens by creating an environment where it’s okay to be honest about difficult emotions. That means listening before jumping to conclusions, taking concerns seriously, and showing understanding even when they don’t completely relate to what their teen is experiencing.

Think about the difference between hearing “You’re overreacting” and hearing “I might not completely understand what you’re feeling, but I want to.” One response can make someone feel like they should stop talking. The other opens the door for a conversation.

Support doesn’t mean parents have to get everything right. It means being willing to listen, learn, and keep showing up.

And for teens, it’s important to remember that opening up can be difficult for parents, too. Sometimes, they may not know how to respond. Starting the conversation can feel uncomfortable, but honest communication can help both sides understand each other better.

How Does Social Media Affect Teen Mental Health?

As someone who has spent time researching social media’s effects on body image and self-esteem, this question was especially meaningful to me.

Social media can be a great way to connect with people, find communities, and express yourself. But it can also create pressure that we don’t always recognize.

Think about how easy it is to compare your everyday life with someone else’s best moments. You see the perfect pictures, the exciting vacations, the friendships, the achievements, and the seemingly effortless confidence. Even when you know that people only share selected parts of their lives, it’s still easy to wonder why your own life doesn’t look the same.

Then there are beauty trends, appearance-related comments, and the feeling that you need to keep up with everything happening online. Sometimes, scrolling can leave you feeling more connected. Other times, you close the app feeling worse about yourself than when you opened it.

My research into TikTok and Instagram has made me more aware of how online content can influence body image, self-esteem, and the way young people see themselves. It has also reminded me that social media affects everyone differently.

The goal isn’t necessarily to delete every app or avoid the internet completely. Instead, it’s worth paying attention to how certain content makes you feel.

Do you leave an app feeling entertained, inspired, or connected? Or do you find yourself comparing your appearance, questioning your worth, or feeling like you’re falling behind?

Those feelings are worth noticing. Your online experience should add something positive to your life, not become the standard you use to judge it.

What Message Would You Want Every Struggling Teen to Hear?

This was one of the most meaningful questions I asked Dr. Dolan.

Her answer centered on a message that might sound cliché at first: things can get better.

I know. “It will get better” is something we hear all the time. And when you’re going through something difficult, hearing those words can sometimes feel frustrating. If you’re struggling right now, you might not want another person telling you to wait for things to improve when they don’t understand what today feels like.

But I think there’s a difference between dismissing someone’s pain and reminding them that their current circumstances don’t have to define their future.

You don’t have to pretend everything is okay. You don’t have to force yourself to be positive every single day. And you certainly don’t have to feel guilty for struggling when other people seem to have it worse.

Sometimes, getting better starts with small things. Telling someone you trust that you’ve been having a hard time. Asking for help when you need it. Giving yourself permission to rest. Taking things one day at a time instead of expecting yourself to figure out your entire future right now.

You deserve support even when you don’t know how to ask for it. You deserve patience, even when you’re frustrated with yourself. And you deserve the opportunity to feel better, even if you can’t imagine what that looks like yet.

If you’re struggling, please don’t feel like you have to figure everything out alone. Consider reaching out to a trusted adult, school counselor, doctor, or mental health professional. You don’t need to have the perfect words to begin that conversation.

A Final Thought

Talking with Dr. Dolan reminded me why conversations about teen mental health matter.

It’s easy to look at someone and assume they’re doing fine. It’s easy to dismiss stress as just another part of being a teenager. And it’s easy to tell ourselves that our problems aren’t important enough to talk about.

But our emotional well-being deserves attention, too.

We deserve spaces where we can be honest without feeling embarrassed, ask questions without feeling judged, and get support without feeling like we’ve failed somehow.

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this conversation, it’s that you don’t have to wait until you’re at your breaking point to deserve help.

Whether you’re struggling with school, friendships, family expectations, social media, or feelings you can’t quite explain, your experiences matter.

And if things feel difficult right now, you don’t have to know exactly how everything will work out. Just know that what you’re experiencing today doesn’t have to be the whole story.

Sometimes, the first step toward feeling better is simply letting someone know you haven’t been feeling okay.