The Tufts Medicine Communications Team sat down recently with Dr. Taylor Dodds, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital, to discuss ways to support teen mental health in Greater Lowell.
Q: Dr. Dodds, the 2025 Greater Lowell Community Health Needs Assessment found that adolescents across Greater Lowell are reporting rising rates of anxiety, depression and stress. What do you see as the biggest drivers of this trend among local teens?
A: This is a trend we’re seeing across the United States, and several factors are driving it. Perhaps the most significant is the rise of social media since around 2010. Adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media show heightened levels of anxiety and depression. Excessive use leads to isolation, social comparison, fear of missing out, exposure to harmful content and cyberbullying — all of which erode mental health. Food insecurity and housing instability in families compound these pressures further.
Q: Many adults struggle to distinguish normal teenage moodiness from something more serious. What warning signs should prompt them to seek professional help?
A: As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I have a very low threshold for recommending professional support. You don’t need to be in crisis to reach out. That said, watch for distress that persists over days or weeks rather than hours, withdrawal from friends and family, loss of interest in activities they once loved, changes in appetite or energy, and declining school performance. Risky behaviors online or in person are also red flags. Any expression of suicidal thoughts or self-harm is always a reason to seek help immediately.
Q: There is growing national concern about teenagers turning to AI chatbots for mental health support. What should Greater Lowell families know?
A: Surveys showed that nearly one in five teens are currently using AI chatbots, and we are seeing more young people seek them out specifically for mental health support. The problem is that popular platforms lack the safeguards needed to protect vulnerable adolescents. Nationally, there have been cases of teens learning how to self-harm through these platforms. I encourage parents and guardians to monitor their teens’ AI use and to reinforce that a trained professional is a better resource.
Q: Once a parent or guardian recognizes their teen needs help, what should their first steps be, and what resources are available in Greater Lowell?
A: Start with your child’s pediatrician — they can provide mental health screening and refer you to a therapist or psychiatrist. Schools are also a valuable free resource; many offer counselors and anxiety support groups. For an acute crisis, call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (833-773-2445) can connect you to emergency services. Closer to home, Lowell General Hospital has a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient office. Call us at 781-338-7343 directly to schedule an assessment.
Q: What can schools, families and healthcare providers in Greater Lowell do to reduce stigma and help teenagers seek help before reaching a crisis?
A: It starts at home. Make mental health a regular topic of conversation. Give your children a safe space to speak freely without judgment. At the community level, we need coordinated action: training coaches and teachers to recognize warning signs, healthcare providers screening routinely, and schools and families working together. Some communities have launched teen-targeted anti-stigma campaigns through social media and multimedia, meeting young people where they already are. The goal is to reach kids before they reach a crisis point.
Q: What do you want every family in Greater Lowell to know about teen mental health?
A: No problem is too small to reach out for help. Even a single conversation with a professional can make a meaningful difference. If you have even a slight sense that your child could use support, act on that instinct early. Taking action now can have a tremendous impact on their long-term wellbeing. The resources are here at Lowell General Hospital and throughout the Greater Lowell community. You do not have to face this alone.
Eye on Health: Lowell General Hospital experts tackle the top health issues facing those living, working, and learning in Greater Lowell.
