Teens face a mental health crisis exacerbated by social media, climate change, and COVID-19
A growing number of adolescents are living with depression, and research suggests that many of them are also struggling with how to access help. The factors contributing to depression vary from person to person and are typically multifaceted; experts cite a few major factors that are fueling the current decline in teen mental health.
Social media
Rates of teen depression and social media use both rose over the past decade, but establishing a clear cause-and-effect relationship is complex. However, there's mounting proof that social media does negatively impact young people's self-esteem. The risk of cyberbullying, sleep disruptions, and the promotion of unhealthy body image and eating behaviors are all negative outcomes associated with social media.
Concerns about social media's impact on teen mental health have escalated to a public health crisis. The surgeon general released an advisory called Social Media and Youth Mental Health in the spring of 2023, followed in quick succession by the American Psychological Association's health advisory on adolescents and social media. Both note that while longitudinal scientific research is limited, social media usage in teens can present potential unknown harms.
Climate change
Concern over the increasingly imminent threat of climate change is another major factor contributing to the teen mental health crisis. A 2021 study of 10,000 individuals aged 16-25 in 10 countries also found that 59% of respondents were very or extremely worried about climate change. The full impact of climate change on youth and teen mental health is extremely complex. Adolescents may feel overwhelmed by climate change, powerless to make a difference, and hopeless about the future.
In 2019, Dante Ravenhearst, 20, a researcher and student from Toronto, summed up these feelings for Vice. "When I was doing research at Algonquin Park, I felt immense eco-anxiety…It's the overall feeling of 'Wow, I am so honored to experience this, but it's not going to be here much longer and I'm part of the reason why.' I feel helpless."
A 2023 report from the APA found that climate change "poses a particular threat to children and youth." The report suggests climate change may impact normal cognitive and emotional development in "ways that are sometimes irreversible."
COVID-19
Teens and youth faced significant mental health challenges during the pandemic, including a drastic rise in social isolation, which researchers have linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among youth, according to a review of research published in a 2023 issue of the journal Current Opinion in Psychology.
The APA explains that many teens and youth also faced additional challenges that could contribute to the development of depression, such as a parent or caregiver losing their job and emotional or physical abuse at home. In its 2023 report, "Hidden Pain," the COVID Collaborative estimated that as of February 2022, more than 200,000 children also lost a primary caregiver or parent due to COVID-19.
Mass violence and gun violence, as well as increasing political polarization, may also be factors negatively impacting teen mental health, according to sources including the APA.
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