In high school, summer is often thought of as a time for fun, freedom and relaxation. Summer break isn’t a positive time for every teen, though. For some, the summer months can bring unexpected feelings of sadness. Your teen may even experience anxiety or depression. If your teen doesn’t seem as happy as you’d expect during summer break, you might be concerned. Understanding why they are feeling sad can be an important first step toward offering the support your teen needs.

Reasons why your teen might be feeling sad in the summer

Many factors can contribute to summertime sadness in teens, from changes in routine to feelings of isolation. Here are some potential reasons for your teen’s low mood and emotions:

• Loss of routine — During the school year, teens have structured days filled with classes and other activities. When summer break begins, that routine disappears. While this might seem like a relief, some teens struggle without structure. A sudden lack of daily responsibilities can lead to feelings of boredom and a lack of purpose. Having too much unstructured free time may make your teen feel aimless and potentially depressed.
• Social isolation — More free time doesn’t always mean more social time. In fact, many teens get less socialization during the summer. Your teen may lose daily contact with friends once school ends, especially if they don’t have summer activities lined up. Even if they’re active on social media, digital interactions aren’t the same as in-person connections. As a result, your teen may feel lonely and isolated. They may feel left out, especially when social media shows other people going on vacations or doing other fun activities over the break.
• Pressures and expectations — For high schoolers, summer can bring added stress about the future. This stress may be especially acute for teens entering their senior year. Your teen may be stressing about responsibilities like preparing for college applications and working a summer job to build savings. Even if they don’t have specific time-consuming responsibilities, many teens feel pressure to make the most of their summer. This might make your teen feel stressed and could impact their self-esteem.
• Seasonal depression — Most people associate seasonal depression with winter. However, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is not exclusive to the wintertime. Experts say that people do experience summer-pattern SAD, though it’s less common than winter-pattern SAD. Summer-pattern SAD may be connected to factors like longer daylight hours disrupting sleep patterns. Potential symptoms to look out for include insomnia, agitation and low appetite.
• Family tension — Summer tends to mean more time at home with family. For some teens, this prospect can be stressful and scary. If there’s a lot of tension in your household, your teen may feel sad spending more time at home. They may also feel like they have less personal space or privacy, especially if they have several siblings. Adapting to more time at home may make your teen feel frustrated, trapped or emotionally drained. Even if your family gets along well, simply being in close quarters for extended periods can cause stress.

How you can help your teen when they’re feeling sad

If your teen is struggling with summertime sadness, there are ways you can offer support without being overbearing. Here are some ways you can help:

• Encourage a consistent daily routine.
• Prioritize self-care with your teen.
• Facilitate in-person social interactions.
• Support responsible social media use.
• Offer a judgment-free space to talk.
• Help your teen find healthy outlets.
• Consider professional mental health support.

While summer is often seen as a time of fun and relaxation, not every teen experiences it that way. The big changes that come with summer break can contribute to feelings of uncertainty and sadness. Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do to support your teen through this time.

When your teen is struggling, professional mental health support is always an option. Lightfully offers treatment for all ages, including specialized teen-specific programs. Our Precision Care Model (PCM) is a compassionate and fully personalized treatment plan designed just for your teen. It uses the most effective aspects of evidence-based treatments to target the drivers behind mental health disorders and symptoms. With our help, your teen can work to cope with their symptoms and boost their mood. 

Change is possible. If you want to get a better understanding of your teen’s behavior and whether treatment is right for them, contact us. When you’re ready to take the first step toward seeking treatment for your teen, you can reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of your teen.