1 ppp THE TEEN BRAIN AND ­ MENTAL ILLNESS Before taking a deep dive into the topic of teen mental illness, you need to understand the basics of adolescence. “Adolescence” is typically defined as the years between childhood and adulthood, which roughly translates between 12 and 18 years old. However, adolescence is more than just a milestone—it often happens to be the most difficult time in a young per- son’s life. As teens start to navigate their world, what they, and their par- ents, don’t realize is that their brains and bodies are developing at very different stages. Due to this dysrhythmia, teens are often confused and disoriented, which not only is frustrating but can even be terrifying at times. As teens enter adolescence, you, as adult advocates, will likely notice behaviors that make it difficult to differentiate between typical ado- lescent behavior and mental illness. Although librarians are not trained experts when it comes to neurology and psychology, nor should you be, understanding how the teen brain works at this point in time can be of tremendous help. By observing and recognizing why teens do what they do, you can determine if something else might be going wrong. With this knowledge, not only can you prepare for difficult conversations but you can help teens advocate for their health and well-­being. When observing, or even thinking about teenagers, you don’t see them as children, but you don’t see them as adults either. What is impossible to
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