Biological Changes
Consider what's going on throughout a teenager's body and mind when adolescence hits. Physical body changes, changing thought patterns, and overwhelming emotions are all common during stages of adolescence. All of the various changes, physical and emotional, during the teenage years, add to the other external stresses that a teenage girl or boy may have.
Emotional Problems
Diagnoses of mental health disorders and other emotional problems are common during a teenager's life. Conduct disorder, depression and bipolar disorder are just three examples of major disorders that a teenager may be diagnosed with. Even though antidepressants or other medications may be prescribed, these emotional and mood disorders still affect teenagers' thought processes, aggressive outbursts, and feelings at a time when their bodies, brains and minds are already changing dramatically through adolescence.
Substance Use
Many teenagers engage in substance use with alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs. Alcohol and many illegal substances are known for their depressive effects, and this is a major factor when considering teenage suicide. In addition, substance use and abuse can have an even more detrimental effect on a teen's thought processes and attitudes if he or she is already suffering from depression or another other mental disorder.
