The demand for mental health and substance use services for youth and families has skyrocketed, resulting in more parents and caregivers reaching out for support. When you notice your child or teen may be struggling with their mental health, or using alcohol or drugs, take it seriously. Intervening early with any substance use or mental health symptoms may prevent things from getting worse.1 You’re not alone, and support is available.
- One in 5 children experience a mental health condition each year, and 50% of mental illnesses begin by the time someone is 14 years old.2
- 18.7% of people ages 12 to 17 had either a substance use disorder or a major depressive episode in the past year.3
- 60%–70% of adolescents who experience a substance use disorder also experience mental illness.4
- While 7.8% of people ages 12 and older need substance use treatment, only 1.5% receive it.3
Check out these resources for you and your loved ones.
Parent and Caregiver Resource Guide for Substance Use
Learn about signs of substance use, risk factors, questions to ask your child's/teen's doctor, resources and recovery support.
Teen mental health and substance use
60%–70% of adolescents who experience a substance use disorder also experience mental illness.
Learn moreHelping parents and caregivers talk about mental health with their teens
For some families, talking about mental health may be an everyday occurrence. For others, it may be a new topic, and it may feel a little awkward at first. If you’re wondering how to get started, and get past one-word answers, these conversation starters can help.
Download digital starter cards
Need help now?
The most important thing to know is that you don’t have to go through this alone. Support is available — for you and your loved one. Call your Employee Assistance Program or Behavioral Health Plan. Or visit liveandworkwell.com and log in using your HealthSafeID or company access code.
Hazelden Betty Ford
Through a preferred partnership with Hazelden Betty Ford, Optum offers you and your family access to world-class support for substance use without leaving home — at no additional cost to you.
Substance use and the LGBTQ+ community
Members of the LBGTQ+ community are more likely to use drugs and alcohol and experience substance abuse health related issues. To better understand these health disparities and the added risk members of the LGBTQ+ community face, listen to our latest Pride365+ podcast.
Recovery Support
If you or someone you know is dealing with a substance use disorder, get help.
Call the Substance Use Disorder Helpline at 1-855-780-5955.
The path may be challenging at times. But it’s important to stick with it. Show your love and support, even when it’s tough. And stay focused on these four things:5,6
- Health — making healthy choices for physical and emotional well-being
- Home — having a safe, stable place to live
- Purpose — going to school, volunteering, working or caring for others
- Community — experiencing relationships built on hope, support, love and friendship
- Krueger EA, Fish JN, Upchurch DM. Sexual orientation disparities in substance use: Investigating social stress mechanisms in a national sample. Am J Prev Med. 2020;58(1):59–68.
- National Council for Biotechnology Information. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15939837
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Key substance use and mental health indicators the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt29393/2019NSDUHFFRPDFWHTML/2019NSDUHFFR090120.htm. Accessed June 7, 2022.
- Youth.gov. Co-occurring disorders. youth.gov/youth-topics/youth-mental-health/co-occurring. Accessed June 8, 2022.