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Teen Health Resource Hub

The teen years bring big changes. As a parent or caregiver, you play an important role in helping your teen through this time. When you understand what they’re going through, it’s easier to stay connected and help them make healthy choices.

mother and daughter

Here, you’ll find tips on regular health checkups, daily basics like hygiene, and ways to build healthy relationships. You’ll also find topics that support your teen’s mental and sexual health, handle peer pressure, and avoid substance misuse.

Our goal is to give you the tools and resources you need to start conversations, answer questions, and help your teen grow and succeed, now and in the future.

The teen years are a key time for growing and staying healthy. Regular checkups and health screenings help your teen feel their best. These visits help catch problems early and support healthy habits.

The screenings your teen needs may change based on their age and health. Below is a general list of screenings often recommended for teens. Talk with your healthcare provider to learn what is best for your teen.

Annual visit

During this visit, your healthcare provider will:

  • Do a physical exam. This includes checking height, weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, vision, and hearing.
  • Talk with your teen about healthy eating and staying active.
  • Make sure your teen is up to date on all recommended vaccines. These may include:
    • Booster shots for tetanus and polio, if needed
    • The HPV vaccine starting at age 9
    • The meningitis vaccine starting at age 11
  • Talk with your teen about growth and puberty. The provider’s office is a safe place to talk about overall health, including physical, emotional, and sexual health.

Other screenings may include:

  • Chlamydia testing for teens and young women ages 16–24 who are sexually active
  • Depression screenings for teens age 12 and older to check mental health and help find concerns early

Schedule a yearly visit with your healthcare provider today!
Your teen may be able to earn Healthy Rewards for completing an annual visit.

Need help scheduling a visit or finding a provider? Call Member Services at 866-606-3700 (TTY: 711) or use our Find a Provider tool to locate a provider in Meridian's network.

Need help with transportation for your appointment? Meridian can help you find a ride to your child’s visit. To use this transportation benefit, just call MTM transportation at 866-796-1165 (TTY: 711).

As teens grow into young adults, it’s important for them to learn how to take care of their own health. You can help your teen to become more independent by teaching them to take part in their healthcare. This helps prepare them to manage their health as they move into adulthood.

Ways to help your teen build independence include:

  • Reviewing their health history together. Make sure your teen knows about any health conditions, medicines they take, allergies, vaccines, and family health history.
  • Practice talking with the provider. Encourage your teen to ask questions and speak up during medical visits.
  • Explaining prescription refills. Teach your teen how to refill medicine at the pharmacy and ask for refills when needed.
  • Explaining how to manage appointments. As they get older, show them how to schedule and keep track of appointments by phone or online.

During medical visits, you may be asked to step out of the room for part of the appointment so the provider can talk with your teen alone. This can be a hard change for parents, but private time is important. It helps teens feel safe asking questions and being honest about their health.

The healthcare provider will tell you if your teen is in danger. Parents are encouraged to keep having open and supportive conversations at home as their child grows and changes.

You play the biggest role in helping your teen make healthy choices about sexual health. Learning how to guide your teen toward safe decisions is an important part of parenting. This includes talking openly about sexual health, getting medical care, and making smart choices about relationships and future family planning. Even if your teen is not sexually active now, this information can help them make good choices later in life.

These talks may feel uncomfortable but being honest and open helps your teen feel safer and more confident. Teaching your teen about sexual health does not mean you are encouraging sexual activity. Age appropriate talks about sex and relationships are a healthy part of parenting and can help teens avoid risky behaviors.

Here’s what parents can do:

  • Get informed. Learn about sexual health, STIs, birth control, and related topics. Share honest and accurate information with your teen. Avoid using scare tactics or myths.
  • Choose the right time. It’s better to start the conversation yourself instead of waiting for your teen to ask.
  • Listen. Let your teen ask questions without judging them or making assumptions about their behavior.
  • Keep the conversation going. You don’t need to talk about everything at once. Short, open talks work best.
  • Share your values. Talk about your beliefs around sex, dating, and relationships. Explain how your culture, religion, or personal experiences shape those values.
  • Set rules and limits. Clearly explain any rules you have about dating or spending time with friends and share why those rules are important to you.

Below is more information you can review with your teen:

  • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • How to prevent STIs
  • STI testing
  • Birth control options

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Sexually transmitted infections (STI) or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that spread through sexual contact. Common STIs include:

  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • HPV
  • HIV/AIDs
  • Trichomoniasis
  • Syphilis
  • Herpes

Each STI is spread through different forms of sexual contact. Each requires different medical treatments. Some can be cured, and others require ongoing treatment to manage symptoms and reduce transmission (spreading to other people).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 20 million new STI cases happen each year in the United States. Nearly half of these cases affect people ages 15 to 24. Many people do not have symptoms and may not know they are infected.

If STIs are not treated, they can cause serious health problems, such as pain, trouble having children later, and a higher risk of cancer. The only way to know for sure if someone has an STI is to get tested.

Prevention
Talk to your teen about how to prevent STIs – even if they are not sexually active.

The only way to completely prevent an STI is by choosing to not have sex (abstinence). But individuals can lower their risk by:

  • Using a condom/ barrier protection during sex
  • Reducing the number of partners
  • Being in a monogamous relationship
  • Getting tested – each partner
  • Getting tested if they experience symptoms such as pain, itching, burning, sores, or discharge

To learn more about STIs visit these resources:

Testing
The only way to know if a person has an STI is to get tested or screened. STI testing is recommended for everyone who is sexually active, including teens. The testing process is simple. Results are usually returned the same day or within a few days.

Confidential testing can be completed at a variety of settings and is usually free or low-cost. Individuals can get tested at:

  • A provider’s office
  • School health centers
  • Community clinics
  • Local health departments
  • Planned Parenthood™

Need help scheduling an appointment or finding a provider? Call Member Services at 866-606-3700 (TTY: 711) for assistance or check out our find a provider tool.

Additionally, testing can be completed at testing sites in your area. To find testing near you, visit:

Birth control
It’s important for parents or caregivers to talk with teens about ways to prevent pregnancy. The only way to fully prevent pregnancy is to choose not to have sex (abstinence). If a person decides to be sexually active, the best way to prevent pregnancy is to use birth control along with condoms.

Birth control can help prevent unplanned pregnancy and, in some cases, reduce to risk of STIs. Examples of birth control options include:

  • Condoms
  • Birth control pills
  • Patch
  • Vaginal ring
  • Progestin injection
  • IUD (Intrauterine devices)
  • Implant
  • And more

Talk to your provider to learn how your teen can get birth control using their Meridian health benefits.

People may also use birth control for health reasons. These can include heavy periods, strong cramps, acne, or other health issues. If your teen asks questions about birth control, do not assume they are having sex.

Encourage your teen to talk with you and their healthcare provider. Together, they can choose the type of birth control that is safest and works best for them.

Help your teen learn what makes a relationship healthy. This helps them understand how to treat others with respect and what kind of treatment they should expect in return.

Here’s what parents can do:

  • Choose the right moment. Bring up the subject yourself, rather than wait for your teen to ask.
  • Listen. Encourage questions without judging or assuming they are engaging in certain behaviors.
  • Make it an ongoing conversation. You don’t have to cover everything all at once — short, open conversations over time work best.
  • Share your values. Explain your values about sex, dating, and relationships based on your cultural, religion, or personal experience and why you hold them.
  • Be comfortable setting rules and limits. Clearly communicate any rules you have about dating or hanging out with friends and share your reasons for those rules.
  • Help teens understand that “no” means no.

Characteristics of healthy relationships

  • Mutual respect. Both people value and honor each other’s ideas, beliefs, and boundaries.
  • Trust. Be sure you always feel safe, secure, and comfortable together.
  • Honesty: Be honest and truthful with each other, even during difficult conversations.
  • Good communication: Share your feelings and thoughts freely and be an active listener when the other is talking.
  • Individuality: Everyone is unique. It is OK to hang out with other people who enjoy similar hobbies and activities.

It is important for teens to notice signs of an unhealthy relationship early. Warning signs can include a partner who is controlling, dishonest, disrespectful, scary, isolating, threatening, or pressuring them. These behaviors are not OK.

Encourage your teen to talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent, family member, teacher, or another trusted person. Let them know that if they ever feel in danger or afraid of being hurt, they should call 911 right away.

Consent is key
Consent means everyone agrees – clearly and freely – before doing anything like hugging, kissing, or more. Discuss big ideas like:

  • “No means no.”
  • Someone CANNOT consent if they are being pressured, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or become unconscious.
  • To give consent, someone must clearly understand what they are being asked to do.
  • A teen should feel safe to say “no” and change their mind later.
  • They should know that asking “Is this OK?” shows respect. Help them practice with small examples: “Can I borrow your book?” or “Can I hug you?” This helps make consent a normal part of daily life.

Dealing with peer pressure
Peer pressure is when other people your age influence you to act a certain way or do something. Many teens feel pressure from friends or classmates. Not all peer pressure is bad. It’s normal for teens to want to fit in. Talk with your teen about ideas like:

  • Trusting their own feelings. Listen to your gut. If you feel uncomfortable, even if your friends say it is OK, it means that something about the situation is wrong
  • Making choices they are proud of. It’s not always easy to resist peer pressure, but when you do, it’s easy to feel good about it
  • Reaching out when they need help. Create a code word or phrase for them to use when they need to leave an uncomfortable or dangerous situation. If they text or call and use the word, know they need to be picked up.
  • Understanding that “no” means no.

As your child grows into an adult, their body will go through many changes. They may start to sweat more, and their skin and hair may become oilier. Hair may also begin to grow in new places.

Good hygiene during the teen years is important for staying healthy and feeling confident. Talk with your teen about these changes so they understand what is happening and how their hygiene needs may change.

Daily hygiene checklist for teens

  • Shower or bathe daily with mild soap. Focus on face, hands, armpits, feet, and between legs.
  • Use deodorant/antiperspirant in the morning. This will help limit perspiration (sweating) and help reduce body odor.
  • Brush and floss teeth twice daily. Good oral health freshens the breath and prevents cavities or plaque from building up.
  • Change into clean clothes daily. Wear fresh underwear, socks, and clothes daily to prevent bacteria and odor, especially after exercise.
  • Menstrual hygiene for girls. Change your sanitary products every few hours.

Mental health is how we think, feel, and handle our emotions each day. It is especially important for teens because they go through many changes that can cause stress or sadness.

You may notice changes in your teen’s behavior. Talking with them in a calm and supportive way can help them feel safe sharing their feelings.

Here’s what parents can do:

  • Check in on their mental health. Ask, “How are you feeling?” and “What worries you?”
  • Model healthy choices. Encourage your teen to prioritize healthy habits such as exercising, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep.
  • Listen. Listen to what your teen is saying, both in good times and challenging times
  • Set up safe support systems. Make sure your teen can reach a trusted adult or counselor.

If your teen shows signs of depression or substance use, get help early. Therapy, school counselors, or teen-friendly clinics can treat both mental health and substance issues. By staying close, listening, and connecting mental health to safe decision-making, you can help your teen grow into a confident, healthy adult.

Talking about drugs and alcohol with your teen can be hard, but it is important for their health. Teens may be curious or feel stress, and their growing brains make them more likely to try risky things.

Here’s what parents can do:

  • Keep talking. Have regular conversations to build trust.
  • Share your values. Be clear about your rules on underage drinking and drug use.
  • Watch for changes. Notice if your teen becomes secretive, withdrawn, or has trouble in school. These may be warning signs.
  • Use a code word. Create a word your teen can use if they need help leaving an unsafe situation.
  • Encourage healthy habits. Talk about eating well, being active, and getting enough sleep.

Meridian is here to support your teen’s well-being. Meridian covers behavioral health services, including telehealth, that offer emotional support, treatment, counseling, and guidance. To learn more about mental health benefits, visit our Behavioral Health page.

Looking to get connected to a behavioral health provider? Call Member Services at 866-606-3700 (TTY: 711) for assistance or check out our find a provider tool.

Illinois Department of Public Health. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)
World Health Organization. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sexual Transmitted Infections (STI)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV, STI, and Viral Hepatitis Testing and Vaccines Near You
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Getting Tested for STIs
Planned Parenthood of Illinois. STI Testing & Treatment
Illinois Department of Public Health. Adolescent Health
Illinois Department of Human Services. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Illinois General Assembly.
National Center for Youth Law. Minor Consent and Confidentiality, A Compendium of State and Federal Laws
American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois Chapter. Adolescent Health Toolkit for Parents & Caregivers
NAMI Illinois. Teens and Young Adults
Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health. Healthcare Rights of Youth in Illinois

Teen screenings

Teen involvement in health

STI / prevention / birth control

Teen Hygiene

Peer Pressure, Consent, Healthy Relationships

Behavioral Health