What this does
This post helps you recognize meaningful mental health warning signs in teens—and distinguish normal moodiness from signals that require attention or intervention. The AI prompt guides you through an objective, calm assessment of what you’re seeing and helps you decide what to do next without panic, denial, or guesswork.
Why it's useful
Many parents either overreact to normal teen behavior or underreact to serious warning signs because everything feels blurry in the moment. This framework gives you clarity. It helps you slow down, document patterns, assess risk, and choose an appropriate response—whether that’s monitoring, starting a conversation, or seeking professional help.
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Prompt
I want help evaluating my teenager’s mental health and understanding whether what I’m seeing is typical stress or a sign that intervention may be needed.
Here is some context about my teen:
Age: [age]
School situation: [middle school / high school / college]
Recent changes in life: [new school, breakup, academic pressure, social issues, family stress]
Current behaviors that concern me: [withdrawal, irritability, sleep changes, grades dropping, loss of interest, anxiety, mood swings]
Duration of these changes: [weeks / months / longer]
First, help me separate common teen stress and developmental behavior from potential red flags for anxiety or depression. Be specific and clear, using examples related to [their situation].
Next, categorize what I’m seeing into three levels:
Monitor and support at home
Start a direct conversation and increase support
Seek professional help now
Explain why each behavior fits its category and what would escalate concern.
Then, help me draft a calm, non-alarmist conversation starter I can use with my teen that avoids blame or panic and invites honesty.
After that, outline concrete next steps I should take over the next 30 days based on the risk level identified. Include what to track, who to involve (school counselors, pediatricians, therapists), and what not to do.
End by listing 5 signs that should trigger immediate professional or emergency support, even if my teen resists, and explain why those signs are non-negotiable.
How this helps you
This removes uncertainty and emotional spiraling. You gain a clear picture of what’s normal, what needs attention, and what requires action—so you can support your teen confidently while protecting their safety and your peace of mind.
