If adulting feels hard sometimes, let it be a reminder that growing up can be, too. 

Data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness shows that one in six Michigan adolescents ages 12-17 experience a depressive episode each year, while the University of Michigan Medicine’s psychology department reports that before they’ve even hit their teen years, 70 percent of grade schoolers fret over grades, friendships, and fitting in.

But what happens when those worries or down-in-the-dumps days become chronic, and how can parents tell when it’s time to reach out for professional support? This week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, features northern Michigan therapists weighing in on youth mental health. Dr. Rebecca Swenson of Traverse City’s Birchwood Psychology says sudden changes like big dips in energy, trouble sleeping, eating less than usual, or recurring complaints about headaches and stomachaches can all be telltale signs that your child is struggling, especially if it’s happening “in the morning before school or Sunday night,” she says.

Find more tips and insights from therapists in this week's Northern Express, available to read for free online or on newsstands at more than 650 locations in 13 counties across northern Michigan.