As summer kicks off and classrooms empty out, many adolescents look forward to late mornings, beach days, and a break from academic stress. But for some teens, the absence of structure, peer connection, and daily routine can become a breeding ground for mental health challenges that often go unnoticed.
Why Summer Can Trigger Teen Mental Health Issues
While summer is often painted as a carefree time, research tells a different story. According to the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, more than 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and nearly 10% had attempted suicide. These numbers haven’t improved in recent years—and unstructured time during the summer can worsen mental health symptoms in teens already at risk.
“We tend to think of summer as a mental health break,” said Daniel P. Dickstein, MD, FAAP, chief of the Simches Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at McLean Hospital. “But for many kids, especially those already struggling, summer can remove the scaffolding that helps keep them steady—like regular routines of sleep, friends, and expectations, as well as supports like teachers, school counselors, and mentors.”
Teens are also increasingly turning to social media to share their struggles, sometimes in real time. One teen posted, “Summer makes me sad ... I just sit around all day waiting for tomorrow, but it just becomes a constant loop.” It’s a stark reminder that emotional distress doesn’t follow a school calendar.
Teen Mental Health Warning Signs
It may be normal for teens to crave privacy, sleep late, or experiment with new identities and interests. But when these behaviors interfere with everyday functioning, it may indicate an anxiety disorder or teen depression.
“Parents know their kids better than anyone,” said Dickstein. “When ‘different’ becomes ‘dysfunctional’—when your child stops participating in life the way they used to—with friends or family routines or sleeping or eating—that’s your cue to check in and, if needed, reach out for help.”
Common signs include:
- Ongoing sadness or hopelessness
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Sudden changes in sleep or appetite
- Increased irritability or mood swings
- Risk-taking behavior or substance use
- Talking about self-harm or expressing suicidal thoughts
If these symptoms persist for more than two weeks or significantly affect daily life, professional support is essential.
Mental Health Care for Teens
At McLean, our unique approach to child and adolescent mental health care supports children and teens with an array of challenges. Learn how we can help your child feel like a kid again.
McLean Hospital Programs for Teen Mental Health Treatment
McLean Hospital offers one of the most comprehensive continuums of care for children and adolescents in the United States. Services include inpatient psychiatry, residential programs, day treatment (partial hospital), outpatient therapy, psychological testing, and two therapeutic schools.
Nationally recognized for dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), the 3East DBT Programs treat adolescents with emotional dysregulation, borderline personality traits, anxiety, and depression. Levels of care include residential, partial hospital, and outpatient.
The McLean SouthEast campus in Middleborough is home to adolescent inpatient, residential, and day programs. These services offer stabilization and psychiatric care for adolescents, with convenient access for families in southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island.
McLean also offers child and adolescent partial hospital programs in Cambridge and Belmont. These short-term, intensive day treatment programs offer therapeutic support through group therapy, family engagement, and individualized treatment planning—allowing teens to build coping skills while returning home each night.
The Child and Adolescent Testing Service (CATS) provides comprehensive psychological evaluations to help families and schools better understand a young person’s emotional, behavioral, or cognitive concerns.
To learn more about any of these programs, call 617.855.2804 to speak to admission staff.
Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: A Growing Crisis
Dickstein noted that while public attention often focuses on adult anxiety, children are experiencing similar—and sometimes greater—emotional strain. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health conditions among youth in the U.S.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 31.9% of adolescents aged 13 to 18 have experienced an anxiety disorder, with 8.3% experiencing severe impairment. These numbers underscore the urgent need for evidence-based care.
To address this, McLean offers two specialized anxiety treatment programs.
As an outpatient program for children and teens with anxiety and OCD, the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program (MAMP) uses cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) to help participants manage symptoms and build long-term skills. MAMP offers a summer college readiness workshop for young adults ages 17-22 with anxiety/OCD to prepare for college.
The OCD Institute for Children and Adolescents, also known as OCDI Jr., is a residential and partial hospital program for youth ages 12-18 with severe OCD and related anxiety disorders. The program integrates CBT, ERP, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in a supportive environment.
“Whether a child is facing a crisis or just beginning to struggle, we have the tools and expertise to help,” said Dickstein. “Early intervention matters—and summer offers a critical window for getting kids back on track before the school year begins.”
To learn more about how MAMP or OCDI Jr. can help your child, call 617.855.2804.
How Parents Can Support Teen Mental Health in Summer
- Keep a routine: Encourage regular sleep, meals, and activities
- Promote social time: Help kids stay connected to friends or community groups
- Limit screen time: Too much social media can worsen self-esteem and contribute to loneliness. This is true for teens and also parents, who can lead by example
- Encourage movement: Daily exercise boosts mood and reduces anxiety
- Foster open dialogue: Create a safe space for kids to talk about emotions
Where To Get Support for Teen Mental Health
Mental health struggles don’t take a break during summer—and neither should support. If you notice warning signs in your child or teen, trust your instincts.
Explore McLean Hospital’s full continuum of child and teen mental health care—including anxiety, OCD, depression, and day treatment programs—see our treatment options.
