The Youth Mental Health Crisis We Face
From 2009 to 2019, the share of high school students who reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40%, to more than 1 in 3 students
The U.S. Surgeon General has stated that our youth are facing
“an epidemic of loneliness”
In 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General released a public health advisory that called the increase in youth mental wellbeing needs “the defining public health crisis of our time,” and underscored that kids’ mental wellbeing has taken a hit as they turn to social media more often and at younger ages. The study highlights that one in three high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness – a 40% increase from 2009 to 2019, and that increased use of social media has led to more feelings of isolation, stress and inadequacy as they constantly compare themselves to others. In 2023, he released a second report titled “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation” – issuing an Advisory on the Healing Effect of Social Connection and Community.
Did you know that:
1/2
of mental health challenges show up by age 14?
10+
is the amount of years until most people access help?
For men and boys, it often takes even longer…if help comes at all.
For Black and Brown young men, deeply entrenched racism further blocks their access to help
The devastating consequences compound the issue…
3.6x
Men are more likely to die from suicide
80%
Approximate deaths from suicide in the U.S. are men