Common mental health changes among adolescents in Bangladesh are primarily depression, anxiety, frustration, anger, emotional disorders, risk-taking behavior, psychosis, and suicide or self-harm.

The idea of mental health has been neglected for a long time in Bangladesh. It was because of the social context or social stigma about mental health. However, the perspective has changed enormously at present.

In Bangladesh, 16% to 18% of adolescents suffer from different mental health changes; problems you may specifically say according to researchers. Although caring for adolescent mental health is still not a popular thing.

But a good fact about it is that the people of Bangladesh are now getting more educated about mental health for adolescents and a portion of them are willing to participate.

Whether you are a parent, teacher or an adolescent yourself, you must learn about adolescents’ fundamental mental health changes to help others or self-help.

Stay connected to the end of the article to get an in-depth idea about adolescents’ mental health changes in Bangladesh. So, without further delay, let’s jump into the details.

What Is Adolescence?

Adolescence is a timeline when a person’s growing into an adult begins. It is a time between childhood and adulthood. At this time, people start developing physical, behavioral, and mental changes to become adults.

According to WHO, adolescence starts at the age of 10 and continues till the age of 19. Primarily in girls, the changes are more visible from the age of 10-14 years. In boys, which is prominent from 12-17 years.

Changes During Adolescence

Both girls and boys go through a lot of changes during their adolescence. However, in Bangladesh, people recognize and talk about only physical changes in adolescents.

Behavioral and mental changes are relatively less talked about stuff here. But did you know most adolescents in Bangladesh go through a lot of difficulties accepting psychological or mental changes at this time?

Well, there is a lot to know about it.

Behavioral Changes Among Adolescents

Mental changes in adolescents are highly related to behavioral changes. So, before learning about mental changes, you should know about the behavioral changes among adolescents.

Let’s take a look.

Adolescents Become More Curious About Everything

Adolescence is when a person comes out of their shells and starts to explore a lot of new things. A new perspective grew inside them naturally. Seeing everything from a unique angle makes them curious.

In the case of their new growth, adolescents are always eager to learn more or know more. No matter what, they want to dive deep into the subject.

Anxiousness Increases

As adolescents explore a lot besides curiosity, most of them develop anxiousness. It is very natural for a person to become anxious while adjusting to new stuff.

Similarly, when adolescents start to see more, they also become anxious sometimes.

Adolescents Want To Speak Up Their Mind

In childhood, a kid’s mentality or thinking pattern revolves around their parent’s or family members’ ideas. But on the other hand, adolescence is all about creating their own identity as an individual.

Undoubtedly proving anyone’s identity is related to speaking up about their thoughts. That’s why girls and boys in adolescence speak their minds and think their opinion is as valuable as others.

They May Communicate Less

At 10 to 19 years of age, a lot goes on inside an adolescent’s mind. Sometimes they are so busy with their thoughts that they try to unknot the tangles of their thoughts.

This is when they prefer not to talk a lot and be on their own. Sometimes maybe, sadism is another reason for them communicating less.

Prone To Take High Risk

Becomes of some hormonal changes, adolescents face a difference in their minds. As a result, they are prone to take high risks, sometimes not even considering the consequences.

Taking risks also indicates an adolescent taking responsibility. However, that should be monitored moderately because too much risk can lead to accidents.

Conflict With Parents Take Place

Once adolescents gradually develop into adulthood, their thoughts change, which can cause conflicts with their parents. Most adolescents feel like the rules of their parents cage them.

So, they want to get free, which results in serious conflict sometimes.

They Grow A Tendency To Prove Themselves Right

As adolescence is an age of growth, it is part of proving oneself right. Most of the time, adolescents try to prove themselves right in every aspect of life. However, they may only be right sometimes.

Often this behavior seems rebellious to family members, especially to parents.

Common Mental Health Changes Among Adolescents In Bangladesh

Now that you understand adolescents’ behavioral changes of adolescents it’ll be easier to understand the mental changes. These mental health changes occur when an adolescent’s upbringing isn’t proper.

Mostly the common mental health changes among adolescents in Bangladesh are negative changes. So, you must be careful about learning these and try to prevent them from happening.

Let’s go and take a deeper look at them.

Anxiety

Anxiety means a restless feeling or unease that may cause out of any situation. It’s present in everyone and can activate at any age. But, in adolescence, anxiety hits a different level.

In adulthood, anxiety may not always be present there. However, adolescence always lies under a thin layer inside an adolescent’s mind. When the person gets triggered by some issue, hidden anxiety arises.

It is possible that an adolescent feels too anxious about a very trivial matter. This may happen when their opinion is neglected and needs to be more valued. Or they are tied up in hard and fast rules by their parents.

Depression

Although `Depression` is used very casually among youngsters, it has got something serious to do with overall mental health. In Bangladesh, it is not very uncommon to have depression as an adolescent.

Why? Because of the lack of knowledge, adolescent mental health still isn’t a significant priority. If you have an adolescent kid, let me tell you, depression can harm them.

Untreated adolescent depression sometimes even leads to adulthood. If it remains within, it increases. As a result, the person becomes sick and sicker day by day, resulting in a devastating mental condition.

Eating Disorder

Eating disorders may form as a symptom of depression. Well, it’s unnecessary if an adolescent with an eating disorder must have depression. Still, eating disorders are hazardous enough by themselves.

Either you can gain overeating problems or starve yourself. In both ways, it is harmful to anyone. Excessive eating can make you obese or develop different physical issues. However, not eating at all can also make you weak and unhealthy.

Trust Issues

Trust issues mean not being able to trust anyone. An adolescent can develop trust issues very quickly. It can happen when someone they trusted breaks their trust or doesn’t understand them.

They might need to be more understood if they go to someone and share what they feel. It happens because their past experiences with opening up or sharing were not good.

In Bangladeshi society, parents commonly misunderstand their adolescent children and do the wrong things. That’s how trust issues can take place in an adolescent’s mind.

Anger Issues

Anger is one of the most common mental health changes among adolescents in Bangladesh. 10-14/17 years of age is a time when adolescents become irritable. It happens naturally but increases when it’s not dealt correctly.

Most boys suffer from anger issues more than girls in adolescence. As a result, they may get into breaking things or yelling very loudly.

Frustration

During an unstable mental health situation in adolescence, a girl or boy may become too frustrated. They feel like bursting out but can’t express it. Even if they express, the results are not suitable.

Psychosis

Dealing with different mental health problems, any adolescent can develop psychosis as well. It may harm the child to a severe level.

Suicide/Self Harm

Suicide or the thought of self-harm, is the worst part of mental health changes among adolescents. If the person suffers from severe mental health issues for so long, they may think of ending their life.

What Should Parents And Family Members Do About It

As you are here, I can guess you have an adolescent in your family or surrounding. Family can and has to play a significant role in helping adolescents with their mental health changes.

Although in Bangladesh, this practice may be challenging because of the social stigma about adolescent mental health. However, you can take a step forward for significant change today.

As a parent, you must listen to your child and then introduce them to your point of view. When an adolescent is heard, they feel safe around you and possibly share more with you in the future.

Besides, it’s a chance for you to get closer to your child. Balancing between freedom and restrictions, you can reach the peak level of creating a good bond with your adolescent child.

If you are an elder brother or sister, spending more effective time with your younger ones can develop a good relationship between you. Moreover, you can guide your adolescent sibling about the changes very carefully.

Wrap Up

If you are still reading, I guess you understand the common mental health changes among adolescents in Bangladesh well. If you have an adolescent in your home, I suggest you be a little soft to them and guide them the right way.

Remember, you always not necessarily have to rebuke them for making them understand something. On the contrary, a token of love and understanding communication can do an excellent job for you.

It also does not mean you should let them be on their own. Just find a middle way to balance their mental health.