Teen mental health
The most recent survey of teen mental health by the Centers for Disease Control in 2023 revealed that 20.3% of adolescents in the United States have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. This reflects a 35% increase since 2016.The survey also found that 40% of teens reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 20% seriously considered suicide, and, tragically, 9% attempted suicide.
These statistics should alarm any parent or grandparent of a teenager. As the mother of a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old, I often think about my children’s mental health and how to best support them.They are growing up in a world far different from the one I knew.Today’s teens face the challenges of social media, cyber bullying, academic pressure, and the struggle to fit in with their peers, all while navigating the changes of puberty.
