Depression, anxiety, ADHD, sleep struggles - today’s teens and college students are under real pressure. We asked Dr. James Greenblatt, a leader in Functional Psychiatry, to share what parents should know about supporting mental health during these critical years.
Parents often think of depression as a brain-only issue. Why is a whole-body approach especially important for teens and young adults?
Dr. Greenblatt:
The simplest answer is this: the brain is part of the body. What affects the body also affects the brain.
For many years, mental health treatment focused mostly on thoughts, feelings, and behavior. While those matter deeply, we now understand that the brain is a physical organ - and like every other organ, it depends on proper nutrition, healthy hormones, a balanced immune system, and low inflammation to function well.
Teens and young adults are still developing physically and neurologically. Factors like nutrient deficiencies, chronic inflammation, infections, sleep deprivation, and blood sugar imbalance can all impact mood, focus, and emotional resilience. If we only address mental health from a “talk therapy or medication” standpoint, we may miss key contributors that are holding a young person back.
A whole-body approach allows us to ask better questions — and often leads to better outcomes.
What are some common signs of depression in teens that families might dismiss as “just stress” or “normal teen behavior”?
Dr. Greenblatt:
One of the most important things parents can watch for is change especially changes from what’s normal for your child.
Some common red flags include:
- Pulling away from friends, sports, or activities they once loved
- Increased irritability, snapping easily, or seeming emotionally “flat”
- Major changes in sleep (sleeping far too little or far too much)
- Ongoing exhaustion, trouble concentrating, or difficulty getting out of bed
- Changes in appetite or eating habits
- New or increased substance use
Sleep changes are especially important. About 90% of people with depression experience sleep issues, and poor sleep can both cause and worsen mental health struggles.
These signs don’t automatically mean depression but they do signal that it’s time to pause, check in, and look more closely.
What should parents do if their teen seems “treatment resistant” and nothing is helping?
Dr. Greenblatt:
I don’t love the phrase “treatment resistant,” because it often places blame on the child instead of asking whether the approach needs to change.
In my experience, many teens who don’t improve with standard treatment have underlying biological factors that were never evaluated — things like low vitamin D, omega-3 deficiencies, mineral imbalances, inflammation, or sleep disruption.
When these issues are addressed alongside therapy (and medication when appropriate), many teens finally begin to feel better.
My advice to parents is to widen the lens. If your child has been doing “all the right things” and still struggling, it may be time to explore a more comprehensive, personalized approach to care.
Screen time is unavoidable. How does it affect mood, sleep, and anxiety — and what boundaries actually help?
Dr. Greenblatt:
Research consistently shows that excessive screen time can negatively impact mental health, especially sleep, mood, and anxiety.
Screens overstimulate the brain, interfere with natural sleep rhythms, and can fuel comparison, stress, and emotional overload — particularly on social media.
The goal isn’t perfection or elimination; it’s balance. Helpful strategies include:
- Creating screen-free times each day (especially before bed)
- Keeping bedrooms screen-free
- Setting clear, consistent daily limits
- Prioritizing offline connection, movement, and family time
Small boundaries, when consistently enforced, can make a meaningful difference.
Why is sleep so critical for teen mental health and how can families help reset sleep routines?
Dr. Greenblatt:
Sleep is foundational to mental health. During sleep, the brain clears waste, balances hormones, strengthens immunity, and processes emotions.
Teens need 8–10 hours of sleep per night, yet most don’t get enough. Chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of depression, anxiety, irritability, and poor academic performance.
Simple but powerful steps include:
- Turning off screens 2–3 hours before bedtime
- Keeping a consistent sleep schedule (even on weekends)
- Creating a calming bedtime routine
- Avoiding caffeine late in the day
Nutrients like magnesium and certain amino acids can also support sleep — but only if sleep is truly prioritized. No supplement can replace good sleep habits.
For teens with ADHD who feel overwhelmed by chores or organization, what strategies actually help?
Dr. Greenblatt:
First, it’s important to say this clearly: ADHD is not laziness or a discipline problem.
Helpful strategies include:
- Writing tasks down by hand
- Breaking chores into small, manageable steps
- Creating predictable routines
- Celebrating effort and progress — even small wins
For parents, shifting from criticism to encouragement can dramatically reduce power struggles and build confidence.
What message of hope do you most want parents to take away?
Dr. Greenblatt:
The body — including the brain — is constantly renewing itself. Change is always possible.
Even when a teen has been struggling for a long time, there are often answers that haven’t yet been explored. With the right support, healing and resilience are absolutely achievable.
There is real hope — for parents, for teens, and for families navigating this journey together.
Dr. Greenblatt’s new book, Finally Hopeful: The Personalized, Whole-Body Plan to Find and Fix the Root Causes of Your Depression (Rodale Press, January 13, 2026), makes a whole-body approach to mental health accessible to everyone. Blending modern psychiatry with nutritional science and holistic, personalized care, the book focuses on identifying and addressing root causes—not just managing symptoms. Finally Hopeful offers an evidence-based, practical framework for healing that supports the thoughtful use of medication while empowering readers with tools to truly thrive, not just get by.
