The mental health of adolescents--assessment and management

About 15% of the adolescent population suffers a mental health problem. Although a large percentage of these adolescents present to their general practitioner at least once a year, often their mental health problems are not presented or are somatised. Unfortunately, without intervention many of these mental health problems progress into adulthood where they are often more difficult to solve.

This article provides an approach to assessing mental health problems in adolescent patients and outlines management strategies.

General practitioners must be skilled in establishing rapport, assessing the problem(s) and either managing or referring on. Assessment of mental health problems in adolescent patients requires a methodical, patient and diligent approach and may require several consulting sessions. Assessment should include identifying the warning symptoms and signs, a medical review, a search for stressors, problems and evidence of emotional distress, and a review of behaviour at home, work/school and with peers. A review needs to be made of the developmental progress from childhood to adulthood, personality development and resilience. Although management may seem daunting, the skills required are usually part of the GP armamentarium and can be adapted to solve the problem, particularly with early intervention, and successful outcomes of the issues identified are mutually rewarding to both GP and patient.