Emphasis on adolescent mental health has grown in the years following the pandemic. Growing concern about isolation and the impact of social media on development is motivating a demand for more counselors specializing in the issues found during adolescent development.
With a bachelor’s degree, entry-level roles include behavioral therapist (average salary: $60,232/year), assisting in diagnosing and treating behavioral issues, or school counselor ($65,050/year), guiding students through academic and personal challenges. The online B.A. in Psychology program from Texas State University offers topics on adolescent psychology, psychopathology, lifespan development, and a variety of relevant minors to choose from.
Trends in Treating Teen Mental Health
Almost two in five (40%) U.S. teens report that they’re not receiving the mental health support they need and yet 93.1% of parents believe otherwise. Teens who feel they’re not getting support are also reporting worse health and sleep, anxiety, depression and low life satisfaction.
Advancements in technology have led to increased adolescent engagement with social media, online videos and instant messaging, creating both opportunities and mental health challenges. Issues like cyberbullying, privacy concerns and information overload significantly affect teens’ self-identity, emotional regulation and social skills.
A recent study explored virtual reality (VR) as a tool for adolescent mental health, finding that VR enhances cognitive skills, improves emotional well-being, encourages positive social behaviors, boosts adaptability and strengthens social interactions, demonstrating its potential in supporting teen mental health.
Recent trends in treating adolescent mental health emphasize early intervention and technology-driven solutions. With nearly 49.5% of teens experiencing mental health disorders at some point, there’s a growing focus on school-based mental health programs, integrating screenings and evidence-based interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy to address anxiety, depression and trauma. Telehealth and mental health apps are expanding access, particularly in underserved areas, allowing teens to engage in treatment or mood tracking privately.
There’s also a shift toward reducing stigma and promoting prevention through social-emotional learning in schools and community settings. Programs like Play2Prevent use video game interventions to foster resilience and social intelligence, while initiatives like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provide immediate support. Texas State’s psychology curriculum helps students examine these kinds of community-based interventions and the social-emotional factors that influence adolescent behavior.
Mental Health Journaling for Teens
Some teens find that journaling helps them cope, heal, and feel more in control of their fluctuating emotions. Writing activates the brain’s emotional regulation centers. While it doesn’t require an app to be an effective private outlet for teen emotions, The Child Mind Institute, in collaboration with the California Department of Healthcare Services, has launched Mirror, a free mental health journaling app designed for teenagers.
The app supports emotional processing through text, voice, image or video entries, offering daily mood tracking, guided prompts and visual insights into mood patterns. It also includes crisis detection features with quick access to emergency contacts and helplines, providing a private, judgment-free space for teens to reflect and express themselves.
Increasing Demand for School Psychologists
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the job openings for psychologists are growing faster than those of all other occupations. The mental health crisis among youth, worsened by bullying, rising suicide rates, school shootings and the COVID-19 pandemic, has heightened the need for school psychologists.
These professionals, requiring a PhD and between five and six years of training, are in short supply, with only a small fraction of graduates working in schools. To address this gap, some states are encouraging education professionals with master’s degrees to pursue part-time PhD programs, enabling them to transition into school psychologist roles more quickly.
Building the Skills for a Career in Psychological Treatment
Texas State University offers a fully online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree program that is designed for busy professionals who want to complete a degree. With courses like lifespan development, psychopathology, adolescent psychology, social psychology and psychology of adulting and aging, you will study how brain functions and social interactions impact individuals’ behavior.
Courses on statistics, research methods and history and theory as applied to psychology and behavioral sciences will provide the tools, technologies and methods that you will use to communicate psychological principles and concepts effectively. You will also gain an understanding of the underlying ethical standards, values and considerations in theory and practice in the discipline of psychology.
Learn more about the online B.A. in Psychology program from Texas State University.
