Pic: Canva

For a lot of us, adolescence is associated with mischief, physical changes, and a very complicated transition period between childhood and adulthood. That being said, we aren&rsquo;t&nbsp; completely wrong but it is also important to understand that an adolescent mind has many more peaks to conquer. This period is called the make or break years for a number of reasons that include changes encompassing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes. While our brain does develop during all stages of life, during adolescence the brain reorganise itself to a great extent. The experiences we have during adolescence can help strengthen those areas of the brain that are linked to the behaviour we engage in. The changes happening during this period are more than what would happen in adulthood and less than what happened during your childhood - but the magical part lies in the fact that adolescents have greater control over shaping their own brains to a large extent.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Now that we have established the importance of adolescents&rsquo; experiences in the development of their own minds, another fact that should not be ignored is the emotional and intellectual leaps that an adolescent can establish with the right information and guidance. While the changing, the adolescent brain does represent a very unique opportunity, we do observe a lot of high-risk behaviours and strong emotions displayed by the adolescents. This happens because of a handful of major stressors that they face in their adolescent lives which include their own identity, peer and independent concerns, body image issues and the race to excel at everything they do - priority being their academics. These stressors negatively impact the brain development, resulting in various disturbances with sleep, emotions, thinking skills, creativity, and concentration levels. It can also lead to psychological concerns like anxiety, stress, suicidal ideations, and depression. From the outside it does not feel much, but an adolescent can feel like they are on a never-ending merry-go-round of deadlines, assignments, exams, and their other commitments - at a phase in their life which feels like they are put up alone against the whole world.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Pic : Canva

Amidst the chaos, what does go for a toss is their mental and emotional health. If the correct support is not provided at the correct time, unhealthy behaviors and habits spill into the adult years of the same individuals. Fortunately, this is very much preventable through strategies that schools, coachings, and parents should actively provide. Some of these strategies include - linking students to mental health services, building safe and supportive environments, integrating social-emotional learning, open and honest communication, inclusive policies, and having a sense of connectedness with the youth. In such times, teens do value someone who is there for them in the most non-judgmental way possible, who will empathize, support, and also have a conversation around their concerns. If nothing, in some of the most vulnerable situations in their lives, they just need someone to hold a safe space for them to pour out their heavy emotions. Amidst the chaos, what does go for a toss is their mental and emotional health. If the correct support is not provided at the correct time, unhealthy behaviors and habits spill into the adult years of the same individuals. Fortunately, this is very much preventable through strategies that schools, coachings, and parents should actively provide. Some of these strategies include - linking students to mental health services, building safe and supportive environments, integrating social-emotional learning, open and honest communication, inclusive policies, and having a sense of connectedness with the youth. In such times, teens do value someone who is there for them in the most non-judgmental way possible, who will empathize, support, and also have a conversation around their concerns. If nothing, in some of the most vulnerable situations in their lives, they just need someone to hold a safe space for them to pour out their heavy emotions.&nbsp;

Gif: Canva

It is high time we realize the essentiality of providing mental health support to every adolescent and create a world where adolescents are not called &ldquo;high-risk&rdquo;, but are mentally strong and emotionally happy!&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The awesome adolescent brain - yes, you read that right! The adolescent brain is awesome in a lot of ways that we fail to decipher. 

The Adolescent Mind: Developing Minds