-0.5 C
New York
Sunday, February 9, 2025

Buy now

CDC Survey Shows Record High Levels of Violence, Suicidal Thoughts, and Mental Health Challenges among Teen Girls

The mental health crisis among young people in the United States continues to worsen, with teenage girls experiencing unprecedented levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk, according to a new survey by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bi-annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which collected responses in the fall of 2021, revealed disturbing trends since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDC’s division of adolescent and school health, called the findings “alarming,” highlighting the “significant” and “heartbreaking” declines in youth health and well-being overall. The survey found that both boys and girls are experiencing increasing mental health challenges, violent experiences, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Over 40% of high school students reported that feelings of sadness or hopelessness prevented them from engaging in their regular activities for at least two weeks of the year.

However, girls were found to be faring worse than boys, with 57% reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021, double the rate for teen boys (29%). Furthermore, nearly one in three teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide, and both rates “increased dramatically” over the past decade. The survey also found “ongoing and extreme distress” among teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning (LGBQ+), with most LGBQ+ students (52%) experiencing poor mental health and more than one in five attempting suicide in the past year.

In response to the survey results, Dr. Debra Houry, CDC’s chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science, expressed concern that “America’s teen girls are engulfed in a growing wave of sadness, violence, and trauma.” The data highlights the urgent need for interventions and support to address the mental health challenges and experiences of violence among young people, especially teenage girls and those who identify as LGBQ+.

The findings call for urgent attention and intervention to address the distressing picture of teenage mental health and well-being in the country.

Related Articles

Featured