5 Ways Social Media and Apps Can Support Your Teen's Mental Health

Teenagers are social individuals. They want to talk and text with their friends. Social media is away for teens to connect with each other. The world is full of technology and apps that help teenagers communicate with one another and have fun. Here are five ways that teens can improve their mental health by using technology.

1. Venting about mental health issues

Being a teen isn't easy. Teens can talk to each other through private messenger apps on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. If a teen is struggling with depression, they can reach out privately to a friend who understands. It could be a "real-life" friend or an online one. Either way, it helps them talk about their problems.

2. Finding people like them

Teens can use apps to find peers who are going through similar issues. For example, a teen struggling with an eating disorder can find other individuals on Instagram who are sharing their stories about their challenges. It helps teens to see peers who have the same issues, so they feel less alone.

3. Support groups on social media

There are groups on Facebook that cater to teens with various mental health issues. These forums are great places to exchange information about mental health resources and help teens talk openly about their conditions. A teenager can find a group for anxiety or depression, or any number of mental health challenges. They may suffer from bipolar disorder and can find others who are dealing with the same challenges. No problem is unique, and teens can find like-minded peers through these groups.  

4. Mood tracking apps

There are a variety of mood tracking apps that can help teens. These are tools that teenagers with mental health issues can use to help themselves identify any emotional challenges they have. They may struggle with depression and not know what triggered it. One mood tracking app that is recommended for 12 and up is called MoodPath. They can try this one or search the app store for a similar one.

5. Self-care apps

Self-care is challenging for all of us, but more so for teenagers. Adolescents are on the precipice of adulthood, but they're still clinging to being a child. It's not easy to take care of yourself, but using a self-care app can help. Check out Fabulous, a self-care app targeted towards teens. You can find a similar app that will help your teen and remind them of ways to care for themselves.

Having a teen isn't easy - therapy can help

There are many different ways to support your teen, but you can't do it alone. Being a parent of a teenager is challenging, and you can seek support for your child. TeenCounseling is an excellent online platform where your teen can get help. If they're struggling, online therapy can be a wonderful support to them and takes some of the pressure off of you as their parent. Give your child the opportunity to work their problems out with a therapist and gain a sense of empowerment.