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News Breakdown: American Teenagers Are in Crisis

  • alexisgtrifon
  • Feb 19, 2023
  • 1 min read

Updated: Aug 23

By Alexis Trifon


Following the pandemic, the mental state of American teenagers has been a major focus of parents, teachers, and more. The CDC report, released on February 13, 2023, shows that teenagers are facing the worst mental health crisis in our nation’s history. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey examines trends related to substance abuse, mental health, violence, and sexual behaviors from 2011 to 2021. The CDC’s indicators of health and well-being showed that 40% of high school students no longer participated in activities— for a minimum of 2 weeks— due to feelings of sadness. Moreover, female and LGBTQ+ teenagers are experiencing the brunt of this: about 60% of female students and 70% of LGBTQ+ students have felt a persistent hopelessness, but the CDC expects these discrepancies to lessen.
Last spring, I had the opportunity to give a TED Talk at my school's annual TEDx event. My Talk, entitled "The Importance of Human Connection," discusses the difficulties Generation Z faces as a result of COVID and the interconnectedness between loved ones and our mental health. In preparation, I reviewed old and current studies regarding mental health in adolescents.

The issues facing young people are directly tied to our future. I am optimistic, though, about the promise of a better tomorrow through more awareness, initiatives, and technologies dedicated to mental health.

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