Reviewed by the Ridge RTC Clinical Team
If your teen is neurodivergent, mental health might not be one of the first concerns on your mind, but it should be.
Neurodivergency often comes with a wide range of challenges for teenagers, including obstacles with executive functioning and social and academic pressure. All of these need to be addressed in order to help your child thrive, and are a core focus of neurodivergency programs and services.
That being said, there is also a strong link between neurodiversity and mental health, and it’s important not to neglect your teen’s mental well-being or assume they’ll be fine if you can just tackle the other issues they’re dealing with.
So what’s the right approach?
The Ridge RTC is committed to meeting the mental health needs of all teens. Read on to learn more about the mental health of neurodivergent teenagers, including why mental health is often impacted by neurodivergency and what parents can (and should) do about it.
Table of Contents:
- Neurodiversity and Mental Health: What’s the Connection?
- Causes of Poor Mental Health in Neurodivergent Teens
- Signs of Neurodivergent Mood Disorders & Poor Mental Health
- Neurodiversity and Mental Health at The Ridge RTC
- Learn More About Neurodivergent Mental Health
Neurodiversity and Mental Health: What’s the Connection?
If your teen is neurodivergent, it means their brain functions and processes information differently from what is considered typical or “neurotypical.” Neurodiversity reflects natural variations in neurological development and is not a mental health disorder.
However, some conditions are indicative of neurodivergency, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and sensory processing disorder (SPD). Also, “neurodivergent mood disorders,” which themselves are not recognized clinical diagnoses, more so refer to mood disorders that can co-occur alongside neurodivergence. That means a neurodivergent teen may experience mood regulation challenges or mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, which require proper recognition and support, but these are distinct from the neurological differences that define neurodiversity.
Many teens live perfectly normal lives with neurodivergency. But how a person processes, learns, and reacts to sensory inputs plays a key role in mental wellness, meaning neurodivergent teens are often at risk of more serious mental health symptoms than their neurotypical peers.
Causes of Poor Mental Health in Neurodivergent Teens
There are plenty of reasons why a neurodivergent teen may struggle with their mental health, including:
- Social difficulties or isolation
- Academic stress and challenges with executive functioning
- Masking and internalized pressure to “fit in”
Studies have also shown that neurodivergent individuals are at an increased risk of anxiety and depression, further highlighting the need to take neurodivergence into account when supporting a teen’s mental well-being.
Signs of Neurodivergent Mood Disorders & Poor Mental Health
As the parent of a neurodivergent teenager, you’re probably already on the lookout for signs that your child is having trouble in school, with friends, or with handling day-to-day responsibilities. What you may not be looking for are the distinct signs of poor mental health in teens, which often present similarly in both neurotypical and neurodiverse young people, such as:
- Social withdrawal
- Mood swings
- Emotional outbursts or shutdowns
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or school performance
- Difficulty focusing
- Loss of interest in hobbies
- Increased risk-taking behaviors
- Unexplained exhaustion
Neurodivergent signs can (and do) vary between teens, and may not always be obvious. Likewise, some neurodivergent teens may be particularly adept at hiding signs and acting as if everything is okay when it’s not. Keep an eye out for concerning patterns in emotions and behavior, and be the one to start the conversation about your teen’s mental health if necessary.
Neurodiversity and Mental Health at The Ridge RTC
Neurodivergency isn’t a bad word, nor is it a sign that your child is at risk of poor life outcomes—mental health-related or otherwise. It simply means that they may be more likely to face certain challenges and that the approach to care should account for the unique way they experience the world around them.
At The Ridge RTC, we support teenagers across the spectrum of neurodivergency, providing compassionate mental health services that work with a teen’s distinct neurological traits rather than against them.
Our approach to care includes tailored treatment plans, neurodiversity-affirming therapy, and widespread family involvement and education. We also help our neurodiverse clients develop the skills that will be most helpful to them moving forward, including skills around emotional regulation, mindfulness, and relationships.
The goal is never to force a neurodiverse teen to act “normal.” For long-term recovery from mental health issues, neurodivergent teens instead need to know that they are wonderful the way they are and be given a treatment plan that plays up their unique strengths while accounting for their unique challenges.
Learn More About Neurodivergent Mental Health
Early recognition and the right support can make all the difference for neurodivergent teens who are struggling with their mental health.
Explore The Ridge RTC website to learn more about neurodiversity and mental health in adolescence, and get in touch for information on our mental health services for neurodivergent teens and the people who love them.
The clinical and medical team at The Ridge RTC is made up of licensed healthcare providers, experienced therapists, adolescent-focused mental health professionals, and board-certified psychiatrists. You can learn more by visiting our Team page.