Research on the Power of Friendship and Mental Health in Teens

Can friendships help protect teen mental health? A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health explored this important question.

Having good friends during your teen and young adult years can make a real difference for your mental health, and research backs this up.

A review of 24 studies (with 18 analyzed in depth) examined data from 12,815 individuals aged 12 to 24. These studies examined different friendship-based programs and support strategies designed to help young people.

The results focused on three main themes:

• Improving mental health awareness in young people
• Encouraging them to ask for help (also known as help-seeking)
• Strengthening friendships to reduce loneliness

Most programs showed positive short-term results, especially in helping teens recognize signs of distress and in supporting a friend who may be struggling.

Understanding the Research

Researchers already knew friends matter for teen mental health. But most past studies looked at formal peer mentor programs, not everyday close friendships and authentic social groups. This study aimed to fill that gap.

Because of this gap, the main goal of the study was to learn more about how friendship-based interventions may support teen mental health. To do this, the researchers carried out two types of reviews.

First, they conducted a scoping review, meaning they searched multiple research databases to gather and map all available studies on the topic. Then, they followed it with a systematic review, where they took a closer look at studies that tested actual interventions and included results after the program.

They searched studies published from 2000 to 2022 and carefully chose research involving young people ages 12 to 24.

The scoping review revealed these key findings:

• Most of the studies focused on teaching young people how to notice when a friend may be struggling emotionally. Many also taught teens how to support a friend and encourage them to ask for help from a trusted adult or professional.
• The programs were delivered in different ways, including in person, online, or a mix of both.
• Some programs focused on specific concerns like depression, suicide prevention, eating disorders, substance use, and social isolation.
• A key focus in many studies was teaching teens to become more aware of mental health challenges (also called “mental health awareness” or “literacy”).

Meanwhile, the key findings from the systematic review show:

• Teens had increased their confidence in giving support to their friends. They were also more likely to seek help for themselves or ask friends to seek professional help.
• The programs were effective in different settings, including schools, universities, and community groups (whether they were delivered in person, online, or both).
• Interventions improved mental health knowledge, help-seeking behavior, and social support. Some benefits even lasted up to 6 months or longer.
• A few programs were especially helpful in improving mental health awareness, help-seeking, and peer support skills. These were Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM), Help Out a Mate (HOAM), and Making the Link.

Practical Strategies for Parents and Caregivers

The bigger takeaway from this research is that friendships are more than just part of a teen’s social life — they can play an important role in protecting mental health.

Here’s how parents can normalize mental health conversations at home and support authentic friendships:

Make mental health conversations part of everyday life

A simple way parents can help is by making it feel normal to talk about emotions and mental health at home. This doesn’t have to be a serious talk every time. Sometimes the best moments happen naturally, such as during dinner or on the drive home.

You can ask simple questions like: “How are you feeling today?” or “Did anything feel stressful or upsetting?” It also helps to talk openly about emotions in everyday situations. This sends the message that everyone experiences difficult feelings and that it’s okay to talk about them.

Teach your teen to be a good friend, not just to have friends

One important lesson from the research is that teens benefit from learning how to support a friend who may be having a hard time.

Praise supportive behaviors when you notice them. For example, if your teen checks in on a friend or includes someone who seems left out, let them know that those actions matter.

At the same time, teach them an important boundary: there is a difference between keeping a friend’s confidence and keeping them safe. If a friend talks about self-harm, your teen should know it is always important to tell a trusted adult.

Don’t ignore signs of social withdrawal

Reducing loneliness was one of the main goals of many friendship-based programs. If your teen starts pulling away from friends or losing interest in social activities, it can be an early sign that they are struggling emotionally.

Teens also benefit when parents encourage them to focus on trustworthy friendships rather than popularity. They need to know that having a few trusted friends rather than being popular helps protect mental health.

The authors are suggesting that friendship-based programs for teen mental health still need more research. They also recommend that future programs keep teaching mental health awareness, but also discover the most effective ways to deliver it.

We invite you to check out our Social Skills Worksheets to help teens practice real-life friendship and mental health strategies.