According to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 3 in 5 (57 percent) of U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, twice as many as boys, representing an increase of nearly 60 percent and the highest level reported over the past decade.
This is indicated by a new study from the federal agency, which also notes and confirms extreme and ongoing distress among teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer (LGBQ+).
While all adolescents reported increasing mental health problems, experiences of violence and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, girls fared worse than boys on almost all measures.
“Middle school should be a time for paths, not trauma. These data show that our children need much more support to cope, have hope, and thrive,” said Debra Houry, chief medical officer and deputy director for Programs and Sciences at CDC.
"Proven school-based prevention programs can offer adolescents a vital lifeline in these rising waves of trauma," she added.
The new analysis includes 2021 data and trends from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), which examines health behaviors and experiences among U.S. high school students.
According to the data, young people's mental health has continued to worsen, with particularly marked increases in widespread reports of harmful experiences among teenage girls.
And, the research notes, nearly 1 in 3 — 30 percent — seriously considered attempting suicide, nearly 60 percent more than a decade ago; while 1 in 5 — 18 percent — experienced sexual violence in the past year, a 20 percent increase since 2017, when the CDC began tracking this measure.
Meanwhile, more than 1 in 10 — 14 percent — had been forced to have sex at some point, up 27 percent from 2019 and the first increase since the CDC began tracking this measure.
The report also found that more than half – 52 percent – of LGBQ+ students had recently experienced mental health problems and, worryingly, more than 1 in 5 – 22 percent – attempted suicide in the past year.
However, trend data is not available for students who identify as LGBQ+ due to changes in survey methods.
The findings by race and ethnicity, the paper said, also show high and worsening levels of persistent sadness or hopelessness across all racial and ethnic groups, and that reported suicide attempts increased among African-American and Caucasian youth.
“Young people are experiencing a level of distress that requires us to act with urgency and compassion,” said Kathleen Ethier, director of CDC’s Division of School and Adolescent Health. “With the right programs and services, schools have the unique ability to help our young people thrive.”
In that regard, the CDC noted that school activities can make a big difference in the lives of adolescents with a relatively small infusion of support to schools, since more than 95 percent of American youth spend much of their daily lives in educational institutions.
While their primary focus is academic learning, schools can take evidence-based steps to foster the knowledge, skills, and support needed to help prevent and reduce the negative impact of violence and other trauma and improve mental health. For example, safe and trusted adults, such as mentors, trained teachers, and staff, can help foster school connectedness, so that teens know that the people around them care about them, their well-being, and their success, the study said.
She added that schools can provide education that equips teens with essential skills, such as understanding and ensuring true sexual consent, managing emotions, and asking for what they need. Schools can also connect teens with their classmates and communities through school clubs and community outreach.
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