Finding Hope when the Sense of “Hopelessness” in Teens at an All Time High
According to the most recent 2021 CDC survey, nearly 3 in 5 teen girls reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless. This is a concerning finding that highlights the urgent need for increased attention to the mental health needs of young people, particularly teen girls.
The survey also revealed that teen girls reported record levels of violence, sadness, and thoughts of suicide in 2021, experiencing distress at twice the rate of teen boys. This is a worrying trend that demands action from parents, educators, policymakers, and mental health professionals to provide support and resources for young people in distress.
The fact that so many teen girls are experiencing persistent sadness or hopelessness is particularly alarming because it can be an early symptom and warning bell for depression. The bigger cause of concern is the impact on their quality of life, including their ability to concentrate, sleep, eat, and engage in social activities in the long term. This start of depression can potentially lead to more serious outcomes, such as suicide, which continues to be on the rise and already is a leading cause of death among young people.
Per the CDC, the reasons for the high levels of distress among teen girls are complex and multifaceted. Some experts suggest that the pandemic may have played a role, as young people have experienced disruption to their education, social lives, and family routines. Another major cause for this is social media and the pressure to achieve unrealistic beauty standards also contributed to these expressed feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression in the survey reporting participants.
It is clear that teens need increased access to mental health services, peer support groups, and educational programs that promote resilience and positive coping skills.
Parents and caregivers can also play a vital role in supporting the mental health of teen girls by creating a safe and supportive environment where they can express their feelings and seek help when needed. This may involve having open and honest conversations about mental health, setting aside time for family activities, and modeling positive behaviors and coping strategies.
The CDC recommends the following steps can help cope with the minimizing the feeling of “Hopelessness”:
- Fostering a sense of belonging among within students: By promoting “school connectedness,” where students feel cared for, supported, and valued, students can benefit from improved health outcomes that can last well into adulthood. However, students from minority backgrounds, who experience racism, and those who identify as LGBTQ+ often feel less connected at school. To help mitigate this, programs like mentor-ship and teacher training, and connecting students with peers and communities through clubs and outreach initiatives, can help students feel they matter and are not alone.
- Improving access to health services: Ensuring that students have access to mental health and substance abuse prevention services, whether on-site or through community-based resources, can be crucial for student well-being.
- Providing quality health education: By teaching accurate, scientifically-based, developmentally appropriate, culturally and LGBTQ+ inclusive health education, students can learn valuable skills like negotiating sexual consent, managing emotions, and seeking help when needed. This type of education can help prevent violence and reduce mental.
In conclusion, the findings of the 2021 CDC survey are a wake-up call for all of us to take action to support the mental health needs of teenagers. By working together, we can help to promote resilience, build positive coping skills, and provide the resources and support that young people need to thrive.
