How to Recognize When It’s More Than a ‘Summer Slump’

When Summer Slows Down More Than It Should

School’s out for summer, meaning your child, teen, or young adult can finally take a break from homework, tests, and after school activities. Summer is often seen as carefree and relaxing—but for some, it brings disconnection, isolation, or mood shifts.

Parents and loved ones may chalk this up to laziness or “just a phase,” but sometimes it’s more serious. While every child deserves the chance to rest—summer break is a time to recharge, after all—these summer behavior changes in children, teens, or young adults may mean something else is going on besides the “summer slump.”

This blog helps you identify when summer behavior changes could be a sign of underlying mental health concerns. Learn what to watch for—and how to get support from Insight Northwest Recovery (INR), Oregon’s trusted provider for youth and young adult mental health care.

What’s Normal: Typical Summer Behavior Shifts

Summer means a break from the school year’s rigid schedule and responsibilities. Your teen may be acting differently this summer—should you worry?

With the freedom of summer, it’s completely normal for teens and young adults to experience some behavioral shifts during the summer.

Sleeping in later is a common change. Teens' biological clocks shift during adolescence, and with no early classes to attend, they may happily embrace not having to wake up to an alarm clock at sunrise everyday. Children, teens, and young adults may also enjoy more screen time. Whether it’s gaming, social media, or streaming, your child may want to use their free time to zone out and enjoy their favorite game or TV show.

Your child may also reduce their social contact after structured school routines, especially during the first week or two of summer. Sometimes, we even need a break from our coworkers and friends to recharge. After the school year, some children, teens, and young adults may need time to themselves. In the same way, at the start of summer, your child may experience some boredom or irritability as they settle into their new, more relaxed schedule.

These changes are common and often temporary—and they usually mean your child is unwinding after the busy school year. But, if these behavioral changes in your child, teen, or young adult seem like they’re becoming permanent, there may be something more serious going on.

When It’s More Than Just a Slump

According to the CDC, “One in five youth in the U.S. experience a mental health disorder annually.”

With your child home during the day in the summer, you may notice some early signs of a growing mental health disorder. But, how can you tell when your child, teen, or young adult may be experiencing more than just the summer slump? Some behavioral changes mentioned above are normal. But others may signal a deeper mental health concern.

Here are warning signs across all age groups:

Keep an eye out for persistent sadness, irritability, or mood swings that don’t improve after a week or two. Occasional frustration or boredom is common, especially during the first few days of summer, but when sadness, irritability, or mood swings keep occurring, or even intensify, it can point to depression or anxiety.

Another red flag is total social withdrawal, even from close friends. It’s more than taking a day or two to recharge. Complete withdrawal is a type of isolation that often indicates mental health decline. In the same way, if your child, teen, or young adult is avoiding previously enjoyed activities, it may mean they’re no longer finding joy in the things that once made them feel grounded—friends and hobbies, included.

Sleep is important for children, teens, and young adults. While your child may enjoy staying up late and sleeping in at the start of summer, disrupted sleep, along with changes in eating patterns, are other red flags to look out for.

As we said before, while enjoying summer break, your child may want to spend extra time on their devices. Increased screen time is common in summer, but when it starts to replace all other interactions, it may signify your teen’s summer slump is depression.

Finally, any signs of substance use or self-harm should be taken seriously. These are coping strategies that may indicate deep emotional pain.

Any of these warning signs could mean the “summer slump” is more than just a phase. In fact, they could point to more serious concerns.

What These Behaviors Might Really Mean

When teens or young adults seem withdrawn, irritable, or unmotivated, it’s easy to label it as “laziness” or typical teenage behavior, especially during the first few days or summer. But often, these behaviors are signs of something deeper. Depression, anxiety, or OCD don’t always look dramatic—they show up subtly.

Behavioral “laziness” may be masking emotional exhaustion. What is emotional exhaustion? It’s when your child, teen, or young adult feels emotionally depleted due to prolonged exposure to stress. Signs may include feelings of being overwhelmed, increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, loss of motivation, or withdrawal from social activities. And emotional exhaustion may play into the development or worsening of mental health disorders.

Common mental health conditions that may surface or intensify in summer:

✔ Depression
✔ Anxiety
✔ Trauma or PTSD symptoms
✔ Disordered eating
✔ Substance use (including vaping, cannabis, or alcohol)

Children, teens, and young adults may not have the words to express distress. Children can also turn to substance use, since it may be a coping tool for deeper emotional pain. Instead of saying “I’m anxious” or “I’m depressed,” they may exemplify some of the symptoms, including substance use, that mean they’re experiencing more than just the “summer slump.”

Mental health challenges don’t take the summer off—and they should be addressed before the school year begins again.

The Risks of Waiting Until Fall

Families may hope that a teen or young adult’s mood or behavior will improve on its own over the summer. Even more, many families may wait until school starts and issues become urgent. But waiting can come with real risks.

By the fall, symptoms may be more severe, requiring more intensive intervention. That’s why summer is the best time to seek treatment.

During the summer, mental health symptoms often intensify, and what starts as irritability and withdrawal can grow into something more serious—depression, self-harm, or substance use. By the time school begins, the situation may feel urgent.

Fall also brings back academic challenges. The pressure of school—homework, projects, exams, and after school activities—can quickly overwhelm a teen who’s already struggling. At the same time, fall waitlists for therapy and treatment often grow quickly, further delaying access to care even further.

Getting support during the summer can reduce the risk of further decline and help teens and young adults return to school more prepared—mentally, emotionally, and socially. Simply put: Early support in summer = better outcomes and reduced crisis.

How INR Supports Families Through Summer and Beyond

At Insight Northwest Recovery (INR), we understand that mental health and substance use challenges don’t take a break over the summer. In fact, summer is the best time for your child, teen, or young adult to get the help they need. We provide compassionate, comprehensive care for individuals ages 12 and up, offering a safe space to heal and grow, especially during a time when your child’s life may be less structured, so that they can return to school in the fall ready to succeed.

Our summer programs are designed to meet young people where they are, and we approach every individual with genuine warmth, empathy, and understanding.

We offer Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and outpatient therapy and medication management. Whether someone is stepping down from a higher level of care or starting their treatment journey, INR offers flexible, individualized support.

Our team also specializes in co-occurring disorder treatment, addressing both mental health and substance use together. Every child, teen, and young adult receives a personalized treatment plan based on individual needs.

For added accessibility, we offer virtual care throughout Oregon, allowing families to access support without needing to travel to our facility in Eugene.

Trust Your Instinct—And Act Early

The “summer slump” is real, and we all need a break sometimes. But, if your gut tells you it’s more than a summer slump, trust that feeling.

You don’t have to wait until symptoms worsen or school begins. In fact, summer is often the best time to access care for your child, teen, or young adult.

INR provides compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to the unique needs of youth and young adults.

Reach out now to explore support options for your child, teen, or young adult. Healing starts with one conversation.