James Donaldson on Mental Health - Teens and Loneliness

How to help teens cope with loneliness While chronic loneliness can be serious, it’s important not to pathologize a teen’s behavior even if they are lonely, says Dr.

Allerhand — in other words, feeling lonely doesn’t necessarily mean you have a larger mental health issue or that something is terribly wrong.

Still, our experts have some tips for parents on what to do when you see behavior that gives you pause or when a teen directly expresses that they feel lonely.

My teen seems lonely, but I don’t know how to bring it up Reflect on the moments that gave you that impression.

Was it when they shut themselves in their room all weekend?

Or when they stayed home instead of hanging out with their friends?

There could be other reasons for their behavior, so Dr.

Allerhand advises asking open-ended questions.

Try something like, ‘I noticed after school all your friends went shopping, and you asked me to pick you up.

What was going on there?’” she says.