Question:
Hello doctor, my son is 14 years old. He is going through puberty and there are quite a lot of psychological and physical changes, so I am very worried. Recently, I read an article saying that insomnia can be a sign of mental illness, and teenagers are especially prone to depression during puberty, so I am quite anxious. My son has actually been sleeping very little for about a year now, and his emotions also change quite frequently. I would like to ask whether my son needs to see a psychologist, or if this is just normal developmental changes. Could you please tell me: does prolonged insomnia mean mental illness? Thank you very much.
Hoàng Thị Ngọc Anh (43 years old)
Answer: Does prolonged insomnia mean mental illness?
Hello Ms. Ngọc Anh, thank you for trusting and sending your question. Regarding your child’s health condition, we understand your concerns about his mental well-being and would like to respond as follows:
Insomnia is a common mental health issue that can occur at any age and may be caused by many different factors. From your question, we understand your concern that prolonged insomnia may indicate “mental illness” - often referring to severe psychiatric conditions such as psychosis or behavioral disorders. However, insomnia itself does not cause these disorders.
That said, sleep plays a very important role. Poor sleep can affect concentration, cause fatigue and daytime sleepiness, and negatively impact academic performance, work, and physical development.
Therefore, in your child’s case, the goal is to have an evaluation by a child psychiatrist to determine whether the poor sleep quality is due to a medical/psychological condition or simply normal changes during puberty, and to provide timely support measures if needed.
Msc. Resident Doctor Nguyen Van Giap - Psychiatrist, Integrated Mental Health Care Center - Vinmec Times City General International Hospital
To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
