Teen Moms and Mental Health: What You Need to Know

Mental Health issues are 4 times higher for young mothers, according to the starkly alarming article by Medindia, with almost 40% of teen moms facing more than one mental health issue such as depression, anxiety or hyperactivity. This high prevalence of mental health issues among teenage mothers is a cause for immediate concern. (Iswarya, 2020)

What is Teen Pregnancy?
Teen pregnancy refers to pregnancies that occur between puberty and age 19. These pregnancies often involve young women who are not yet legally adults, a status that varies by jurisdiction. (Ravi, 2008)

Relatability:
This topic hit close to home for me. I was a teen mother and recalled the mental pressure I was under at a very young age. I did not know the first thing about being a mother or mental health; I knew that I felt sad, isolated, and very profoundly ashamed of myself and how I misrepresented my family.
The Texas Tribune wrote an article stating that “More than 1 in 6 teenagers who gave birth in Texas in 2020 already had a child. Texas does not require sex education and has the strictest abortion law in the nation” (Klibanoff, E & Cai, M. 2022).

Racial & Ethical Disparities
Unfortunately, racial and ethnic disparities make certain groups more vulnerable. “…[B]lack and Latina girls are more than twice as likely as white girls to become pregnant before they leave adolescence. (Wiltz, 2015)

Teenage Moms & Depression
Several studies suggest that adolescent mothers experience significantly higher rates of depression, both prenatally and postpartum, than adult mothers and their nonpregnant peers.
Among adolescent mothers, rates of depression are estimated to be between 16% and 44% (Akter, M. 2019).

Teen Moms & Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a severe condition that extends beyond the typical ‘baby blues,’ which usually subside within two weeks. It’s imperative to seek medical help if you or someone you know is experiencing PPD. Teen mothers, in particular, are at a higher risk and are twice as likely as adult mothers to develop PPD. Early intervention addresses this issue (Nall, R., 2016).

“It is estimated that 20% of pregnant people suffer from mood or anxiety disorders during pregnancy. However, researchers found that teens ranging from 15 to 19 years old experienced postpartum depression at a rate that was twice as high as people aged 25 and older.” (Hennepin Healthcare, 2023)

Teen Moms & Suicidal Ideation
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among female adolescents. A greater risk is seen among adolescent mothers who become pregnant outside marriage and consider suicide as the solution to unresolved problems.

Factors to Reduce Mental Health Issues
When teen moms have a sound support system from family, friends, and/or the baby’s father, the mother’s risk is reduced. Another crucial factor in reducing mental health challenges in the life of teenage moms is an income to support themselves and their children. This often starts with completing high school, a significant milestone that not only opens doors to higher education but also significantly reduces the risk of mental health challenges.