Common mental distresses among youth
Each mental distress, mental health problem and mental disorder has its own emotions, signs and symptoms that describe its presence. Here is the list of the most common mental distresses that happen within youth, with their emotions, signs and symptoms. This can help you identify mental distress among young people you work with. To help you understand each of these distresses better, we will define them here:
Academic stress
Academic stress is a psychological strain arising from academic demands perceived as exceeding the individual’s coping resources.
Loneliness
Loneliness is a subjective emotional state resulting from a perceived gap between desired and actual social connection.
Peer pressure
Peer pressure is social influence exerted by peers that can lead to emotional discomfort and behavioral change to gain acceptance.
Body image issues
Body image issues are distorted or negative self-perception of one’s physical appearance, often influenced by societal standards.
Family conflict
Family conflict is ongoing interpersonal tension within the family system that contributes to emotional distress.
Romantic breakups or heartbreak
Romantic breakups or heartbreak is an emotional turmoil following the dissolution of a romantic attachment, often involving grief and adjustment difficulties.
Social media overload
Social media overload is emotional and cognitive strain caused by excessive engagement with online platforms and digital comparison.
Fear of the future
Fear of the future is anticipatory anxiety related to uncertainty about life events, roles, or personal outcomes.
Grief or loss
Grief or loss is a natural emotional response to the death or absence of someone or something significant.
Table Info
The table above is only in English.
If you want to see it in your own language, just click and open the drawer below.
Translation table
|
Mental distress |
Emotions |
Signs |
Symptoms |
|
Academic stress |
Pressure, fear of failure, overwhelm |
Avoiding school tasks, procrastination, frequent complaints |
Headaches, difficulty sleeping, irritability, fatigue |
|
Loneliness |
Sadness, emptiness, rejection |
Withdrawing from social activities, excessive time alone |
Low mood, negative thoughts, sleep problems, low motivation |
|
Peer pressure |
insecurity, fear of exclusion |
Sudden behavior changes, risky decision-making, trying too hard to fit in |
Stomach aches, tension, self-doubt, restlessness |
|
Body image issues |
Shame, frustration, self-consciousness |
Avoiding mirrors/photos, checking body frequently, wearing oversized clothes |
Eating irregularities, anxiety, low self-worth, mood swings |
|
Family conflict |
Anger, sadness, helplessness |
Arguments at home, emotional outbursts, avoidance |
Crying, stomach pain, disturbed sleep, headaches |
|
Romantic breakups or heartbreak |
Sadness, confusion, guilt |
Isolating from friends, loss of interest in usual activities |
Insomnia, appetite changes, crying, obsessive thoughts |
|
Social media overload |
Comparison, anxiety, irritability |
Constant checking of phone, emotional reactions to posts, online validation seeking |
Attention problems, sleep disruption, mood drops, anxiety spikes |
|
Fear of the future |
Stress, panic, doubt |
Overplanning, indecisiveness, asking repetitive reassurance questions |
Fatigue, restlessness, sleep issues, overthinking |
|
Grief or loss |
Deep sadness, numbness, confusion |
Loss of interest in daily life, withdrawal from others, quietness |
Crying spells, disrupted sleep, low energy, lack of appetite |
Common mental distresses among youth
Recognizing those is very important because a young person dealing with mental problems might need help and support in overcoming them. Your role, as a youth worker, is to recognize those problems and empower young people to seek appropriate help – either self or professional one. If not treated well, they can develop into mental health disorders.
Common mental problems among youth
IIf we don’t understand mental distress and work on minimizing them, they can grow into mental health problems – the next stage of mental health challenges.
Here is the list that can help you understand mental health problems better and how to recognize them:
Chronic stress
Chronic stress is a prolonged physiological and emotional response to persistent external pressures that exceed a person’s coping resources.
Prolonged low mood
Prolonged low mood is a sustained period of low mood and loss of interest that significantly affects daily functioning but does not meet full diagnostic criteria for depression.
Generalized anxiety
Generalized anxiety is ongoing, excessive worry about various aspects of life that causes distress and impairs functioning without meeting the threshold for an anxiety disorder.
Mild eating concerns
Mild eating concerns are problematic eating behaviors and preoccupations with food or body image that cause distress but are not severe or consistent enough to qualify as a clinical eating disorder.
Sleep problems
Sleep problems are persistent disturbances in sleep quantity or quality that impair daytime functioning but do not meet criteria for insomnia disorder.
Romantic breakups or heartbreak
Social withdrawal is a pattern of deliberate social avoidance that goes beyond preference for solitude and is often linked to underlying emotional distress.
Self-esteem struggles
Self-esteem struggles are persistent patterns of low self-worth and negative self-evaluation that impacts confidence and interpersonal functioning.
Screen & gaming overuse
Screen & gaming overuse is excessive engagement with screens or gaming that interferes with daily responsibilities and emotional well-being but does not constitute an addiction.
Unhealthy coping
Unhealthy coping mechanisms means that a person uses maladaptive behaviors (overeating, overspending) to manage stress or emotions in a way that may temporarily relieve discomfort but leads to longer-term problems.
Persistent anger & irritability
Persistent anger & irritability is frequent and intense feelings of anger or irritability that disrupt relationships and daily life but do not meet diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder.
Table Info
The table above is only in English.
If you want to see it in your own language, just click and open the drawer below.
Translation table
|
Mental health problems |
Emotions |
Signs |
Symptoms |
|
Chronic stress |
Persistent worry, frustration, helplessness |
Frequent complaints about being overwhelmed, difficulty concentrating, irritability |
Sleep disturbances, headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues |
|
Prolonged low mood (subclinical depression) |
Sadness, emptiness, loss of interest |
Reduced motivation, neglecting personal hygiene, avoiding social events |
Fatigue, changes in appetite, frequent crying, feelings of worthlessness |
|
Generalized anxiety (not anxiety disorder) |
Nervousness, fear, excessive self-doubt |
Constant overthinking, avoiding challenges, perfectionism |
Stomach aches, rapid heartbeat, restlessness, muscle tension |
|
Mild eating concerns (Not diagnosed eating disorder) |
Body dissatisfaction, guilt, frustration |
Frequent dieting, excessive exercise, fixating on calories |
Energy fluctuations, digestive discomfort, irregular eating patterns |
|
Sleep problems (chronic, but not insomnia disorder) |
Frustration, exhaustion, irritability |
Trouble falling or staying asleep, excessive napping, reliance on caffeine |
Daytime fatigue, mood swings, difficulty concentrating |
|
Social withdrawal (beyond normal introversion) |
Loneliness, rejection, numbness |
Avoiding messages and calls, skipping social events, reluctance to open up |
Low motivation, emotional numbness, changes in eating/sleeping patterns |
|
Self-esteem struggles |
Shame, insecurity, self-doubt |
Seeking excessive validation, negative self-talk, reluctance to try new things |
Mood swings, difficulty handling criticism, social comparison fatigue |
|
Screen & gaming overuse |
Restlessness, irritability, escapism |
Prioritizing screen time over responsibilities, difficulty focusing on offline activities |
Sleep deprivation, eye strain, mood drops when offline |
|
Unhealthy coping mechanisms (not substance dependence, but risky behavior) |
Emotional numbness, frustration, impulsivity |
Overeating, reckless spending, substance experimentation |
Mood swings, guilt after behaviors, difficulty managing emotions |
|
Persistent Anger & Irritability |
Resentment, frustration, impulsiveness |
Frequent arguments, difficulty controlling outbursts, blaming others |
Increased heart rate, tense muscles, prolonged stress response |
Common mental health problems among youth
Mental disorders among youth
Lastly, here is the table of mental disorders that can help you recognize them within youth:
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness, anhedonia, and functional impairment for at least two weeks.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder is a condition marked by chronic, excessive worry across multiple domains, accompanied by physical and cognitive symptoms
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is a persistent fear of social or performance situations where scrutiny or embarrassment may occur.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder involving intrusive, unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing anxiety.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder involving delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and impaired functioning.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder featuring patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity inappropriate for age.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a trauma-related disorder involving re-experiencing, avoidance, and hyperarousal following exposure to a traumatic event.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders are psychiatric conditions characterized by abnormal eating behaviors, distorted body image, and health consequences (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa).
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder with alternating episodes of depression and mania or hypomania, affecting mood, energy, and behavior.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder involving persistent deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors.
Table Info
The table above is only in English.
If you want to see it in your own language, just click and open the drawer below.
Translation table
|
Mental health problems |
Emotions |
Signs |
Symptoms |
|
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) |
Deep sadness, hopelessness, guilt |
Withdrawal from activities, decline in performance, frequent crying |
Persistent low mood, changes in sleep/appetite, fatigue, suicidal thoughts |
|
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) |
Constant worry, fear, unease |
Avoidance of feared situations, excessive reassurance-seeking |
Restlessness, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, sleep disturbance |
|
Social Anxiety Disorder |
Intense fear of embarrassment, shame, dread |
Avoiding social situations, discomfort in group settings, isolation |
Sweating, trembling, nausea, racing heart during social interactions |
|
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) |
Guilt, fear, distress |
Repeating behaviors (handwashing, checking), intrusive thoughts |
Anxiety spikes without rituals, mental exhaustion, time-consuming routines |
|
Schizophrenia |
Confusion, fear, emotional flatness |
Withdrawal, odd beliefs or speech, difficulty distinguishing reality |
Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, cognitive difficulties |
|
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) |
Frustration, impulsivity, restlessness |
Difficulty sitting still, interrupting, struggling with focus |
Inattention, hyperactivity, poor memory, disorganization |
|
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) |
Fear, anger, detachment |
Avoidance of reminders, nightmares, startle responses |
Flashbacks, emotional numbness, hypervigilance, sleep disturbance |
|
Eating Disorders |
Shame, anxiety, distorted self-worth |
Food restriction, bingeing/purging, excessive body checking |
Rapid weight changes, fatigue, digestive issues, hair thinning |
|
Bipolar Disorder |
Extreme mood shifts from euphoria to despair |
Periods of intense energy followed by depressive crashes |
Insomnia during mania, impulsive behavior, suicidal ideation during lows |
|
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) |
Difficulty expressing emotions traditionally, anxiety in unfamiliar settings |
Social and communication challenges, repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivities |
Delayed speech, rigid routines, emotional dysregulation, intense intere |
Your role as a youth worker is only to know to recognize “basic” mental disorders and to know where to send young people to find professional help.
Keep in mind that one or two of these symptoms alone can’t predict a mental health challenge but may indicate a need for further evaluation. If a person is experiencing several at one time and the symptoms are causing serious problems in the ability to study, work, or relate to others, he/she should be seen by a physician or mental health professional. People with suicidal thoughts or intent, or thoughts of harming others, need immediate attention.
Even if you have the understanding of mental health struggles and knowledge of how to recognize them, you still need to understand that sometimes there are “invisible signs” of mental health struggles. Some people are naturally more closed and their emotions and signs are not very visible, even if they seem okay. In that situation you should pay attention to some statements that can indicate the presence of mental health challenges.
“It’s just so hard to get out of bed lately.”
“I just can’t deal with life right now.”
“I just want to sleep and never wake up.”
“Everything is too much.”
The Most common mental health challenges in youth
Just recognizing the signs of various mental health challenges without their deeper understanding can be difficult. Since youth workers are not psychologists, we don’t need to have a deeper understanding of each of those mentioned above to be efficient in our job. But, we believe that knowing and understanding the most common mental health challenges in youth is important.
Here is a detailed explanation of challenges young people face that can increase the quality of your work with them:
UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND ANXIETY
Young people tend to misplace stress and anxiety, often understanding both of their symptoms only as anxiety. We need to understand the difference between them to be able to cope with them.
Stress is a physiological and psychological response triggered by external demands or perceived threats. It activates the body’s “fight or flight” response, leading to increased heart rate, muscle tension, and heightened alertness. While stress can serve as a motivator in certain situations, such as preparing for an important exam or meeting deadlines, prolonged exposure to stress without adequate recovery can negatively affect both mental and physical health.
Anxiety, on the other hand, is more than just a response to external stressors. It is a continuous state of worry or fear that can persist even when no immediate threat is present. Unlike stress, which typically subsides once the challenge is addressed, anxiety tends to linger and can interfere with daily life. People with anxiety often experience excessive rumination, difficulty concentrating, and a sense of unease that may not be linked to any specific situation.
Both stress and anxiety can manifest in similar ways, including difficulty sleeping, irritability, and restlessness. However, chronic anxiety can also lead to long-term emotional distress and physical symptoms such as digestive problems, headaches, and rapid heartbeat. While occasional stress is a normal part of life, recognizing when stress transitions into chronic anxiety is crucial for seeking appropriate interventions.
Stress VS ANXIETY
When discussing mental health, using precise language is crucial to avoid misconceptions. For example, stress and anxiety are often confused, but they have distinct differences. Stress is typically tied to an external factor, like an upcoming exam, and often motivates action—such as creating a study schedule. In contrast, anxiety can persist even without a clear cause, leading to excessive worry and avoidance behaviors, like skipping social gatherings due to fear of judgment. By using accurate terminology, youth workers can help young people better understand and manage their emotions.
Table Info
The table above is only in English.
If you want to see it in your own language, just click and open the drawer below.
Translation table
|
Stress |
Anxiety |
|
|
The source |
Tied to an external factor, such as work deadlines, school exams, or conflicts in relationships. It is a reaction to a specific demand or pressure. Once the situation is resolved, stress tends to decrease. |
Often internal and can persist even in the absence of an identifiable stressor. It involves excessive worry about potential or hypothetical situations, sometimes without any real threat. |
|
Duration and presistence of symptoms |
Short-term and fades when the stressful event passes |
Lingers for extended periods, sometimes weeks or months, even in calm conditions. |
|
Physical and emotional symptoms |
Increased heart rate, muscle tension, headaches and temporary difficulty sleeping. |
Nausea, dizziness, chronic fatigue, tightness in the chest, sleep disturbances, excessive nervousness, and overthinking. |
|
Behavioral responses |
Stress tends to encourage action. For example, if a person is stressed about an upcoming exam, they may study harder or create a structured schedule. |
Often leads to avoidance behaviors. A person experiencing social anxiety may completely avoid gatherings or public speaking due to fear of embarrassment. |
|
Thought patterns and cognitive impact |
Thoughts are often situational and focused on problem-solving. A person under stress might think, “I need to organize my time better to finish this project.” |
Tends to involve irrational and exaggerated worries, such as, “Even if I do everything perfectly, I will still fail, and everyone will judge me.” |
|
Response to relaxation techniques |
Responds well to relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or exercise. Once the stressor is removed, the body’s response returns to normal. |
May not always subside with these techniques and might require a more structured approach, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication, depending on the level of anxiety. |
Varieties of Stress
Stress can be categorized into different types based on its duration and impact. Understanding these varieties can help individuals recognize and manage stress effectively.
-Acute Stress: This is the most common form of stress and occurs in response to immediate challenges or pressures. It is short-term and usually subsides once the situation is resolved. Examples include preparing for a presentation, running late for an appointment, or dealing with an argument.
-Episodic Acute Stress: Some individuals frequently experience acute stress due to their lifestyle or personality traits. People with perfectionistic tendencies or those who take on too many responsibilities may suffer from episodic acute stress, leading to constant tension and exhaustion.
– Chronic Stress: This occurs when stress becomes long-term and persistent, often due to ongoing life challenges such as financial difficulties, an unhealthy work environment, or relationship problems. Chronic stress can contribute to severe health issues, including cardiovascular diseases and weakened immune function.
– Traumatic Stress: This type of stress results from experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as an accident, natural disaster, or violent encounter. It can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and requires professional intervention for management.
Varieties of Anxiety
Just as stress has different types, anxiety also exists in various forms, each affecting individuals in unique ways. Understanding these types can help identify the right coping strategies and professional interventions when needed.
– Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): This form of anxiety involves excessive, uncontrollable worry about everyday situations, including work, health, or relationships. People with GAD often anticipate disaster and experience symptoms such as restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
– Social Anxiety Disorder: This condition is characterized by an intense fear of social interactions due to a fear of judgment or embarrassment. People with social anxiety often avoid public speaking, meeting new people, or participating in group activities, even when they wish to engage socially.
– Panic Disorder: Individuals with panic disorder experience sudden and intense episodes of fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks can cause a racing heart, chest pain, dizziness, trembling, and shortness of breath, often making individuals feel as if they are losing control.
– Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): OCD is marked by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that cause anxiety, leading to repetitive behaviors (compulsions) aimed at reducing distress. Common compulsions include excessive hand washing, checking behaviors, or counting rituals.
– Phobia-Related Disorders: A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights (acrophobia), enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), or flying (aviophobia). These fears can lead to avoidance behaviors that interfere with daily life.
– Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD can develop after exposure to a traumatic event, such as an accident, violence, or natural disaster. Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety, and emotional numbness. Therapy and structured interventions are often needed for PTSD management.
UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION
Depression is often misunderstood. It’s not simply about “being sad” or “having a bad day.” For many young people, depression is an all-consuming experience—one that affects thoughts, behavior, energy, and even the ability to find meaning in everyday life. To engage meaningfully with young people around mental health, we need to understand what depression really is—and what it isn’t.
Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud made an important distinction between mourning and melancholia over a century ago—a distinction that still helps us understand how people process emotional loss today.
Stress can be categorized into different types based on its duration and impact. Understanding these varieties can help individuals recognize and manage stress effectively.
-Acute Stress: This is the most common form of stress and occurs in response to immediate challenges or pressures. It is short-term and usually subsides once the situation is resolved. Examples include preparing for a presentation, running late for an appointment, or dealing with an
Mourning
Mourning is considered a natural and often healthy response to loss. When someone close dies, when a meaningful relationship ends, or when life changes dramatically, mourning helps the mind acknowledge that loss and begin to heal. Grief might be expressed through storytelling, ritual, or symbolic action. Importantly, it allows space for emotions to be externalized and processed.
Melancholia
Melancholia, on the other hand, is more complicated. Rather than directing emotions outward, the individual turns the pain inward. The result is a harsh internal dialogue, often accompanied by guilt, self-reproach, and even a loss of a sense of self. According to Freud (1917), melancholia can feel like part of the self has been lost along with the lost person or thing.
Depression
Finally, there is depression—a condition recognized by the World Health Organization (2023) as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Depression is not only emotional; it is existential. A person struggling with depression may experience emotional numbness, loss of motivation, physical exhaustion, and a sense of disconnection from life. In some cases, depression arises from unresolved grief or trauma. In others, it emerges gradually, often unnoticed until functioning is deeply impaired.
The field of mental health recognizes several diagnostic categories under the umbrella of depressive disorders (American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5, 2013), each with distinct features:
Depression manifests differently across age groups and genders, influenced by cultural expectations, neurodevelopmental factors, and social context. Depending on the group you work with, here are some general guidelines that can help you understand better overall, possible behaviors. Of course, as for everything else, bear in mind that manifestations can also be different within these groups – but knowing the general scenery, might help you identify variations in daily youth work.
In children, depression may present as irritability, clinginess, or anxiety rather than verbalized sadness. In adolescents, who are navigating identity formation and peer belonging, it can appear through risk-taking, withdrawal, or sudden changes in sleep or eating habits.
Young adults may face a unique burden of existential uncertainty—struggling to establish a sense of purpose in a hyperconnected, high-pressure world. Depression in this group can be masked by perfectionism, substance use, or disengagement from responsibilities.
As people age, symptoms of depression often become more somatic. Middle-aged adults may report chronic fatigue, loss of libido, or sleep disruption, while older adults might describe physical pain, cognitive slowing, or memory lapses—sometimes misattributed to aging.
Gender also plays a role. Socialized norms often lead men to express depression through irritability, aggression, or substance abuse, while women are statistically more likely to experience internalized symptoms like rumination and anxiety (Nolen-Hoeksema, 2001).
DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Involves persistent sadness or loss of interest in daily activities for at least two weeks, often accompanied by sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating. It can severely disrupt personal, academic, or social life.
Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia)
Is characterized by a lower-grade but long-lasting form of depression, where individuals may say they've "always felt this way." It often goes unrecognized because it becomes part of their identity.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Typically occurs in colder, darker months due to reduced exposure to sunlight, affecting mood-regulating neurotransmitters like serotonin.
Depression with Psychotic Features
Includes delusional thinking or hallucinations, often reflecting the individual's feelings of worthlessness or guilt.
Bipolar Disorder
While categorized separately, involves cycles of depression and mania or hypomania. The depressive episodes can be indistinguishable from MDD in their severity.
Perinatal and Hormonal Depression
Affects individuals during pregnancy, postpartum, or in relation to hormonal fluctuations, including those connected to the menstrual cycle or menopause.
Depression becomes a crisis when it begins to endanger a young person’s safety—whether through self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or behavior that risks their wellbeing or that of others. At this point, intervention must be immediate. Mental health professionals use the term crisis to describe situations where there is a clear and present risk. In youth work, being able to recognize signs—talk of hopelessness, sudden calmness after distress, withdrawal from previously meaningful relationships—can be life-saving. Crisis response requires a calm, non-judgmental presence and access to professional support services.
Youth workers are not expected to diagnose or treat depression. But their role is vital. Creating spaces where emotions are named and normalized is one of the most powerful forms of early intervention. Promoting mental health literacy—is increasingly recognized as a necessary competency in youth work. It empowers not only the youth workers themselves, but the young people they engage with.
We invite you to keep a comprehensive approach when trying to understand the young person in front of you, and to use the multi-layered knowledge our platform provides you with. In case you are not sure that your theoretical knowledge is enough, you can always implement some activity which will help you open up the group of young people you work with – for this, you can always access our activities recommendations, at the end of each complete section.
