According to new CDC data released last week, nearly three in five U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, double that of boys. Almost a third of female teens seriously considered attempting suicide—up nearly 60% from a decade ago.
“High school should be a time for trailblazing, not trauma. These data show our kids need far more support to cope, hope, and thrive,” Debra Houry, M.D., M.P.H., CDC’s Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science. “Proven school prevention programs can offer teens a vital lifeline in these growing waves of trauma.”
Janet Garrett, director of Lakeview Center’s children’s outpatient services, told Inweekly, “We have seen an increase in anxiety and depression, not just with girls, but with everyone around. We’ve noticed an increase of more children coming in seeking help for the after-effects of the pandemic.”
She pointed out that teens had to deal with their social factors being taken away and losing family members and loved ones to the COVID-19 virus. The losses of friendship, social life, family members and normalcy have stacked up for them.
Garrett said, “We are seeing some more girls with depression and with anxiety. If I had to pick between the two, anxiety would be the one where we see more girls.”
Anxiety comes from being away from the classroom for nearly two years while attending school via Zoom and then being put back in class. “They’re having to come back and socialize, and the fear of being able to fit in and get along can cause anxiety, as well as the fear of not being able to do well in school.”
She recommended that parents should look for changes in their teen’s behavior, such as changes in sleep and eating patterns and in their friendships. Garrett said, “The key thing for parents is to have an open line of communication with their children and have those hard conversations about what depression and anxiety look like because they may not know how to verbalize it.”
If parents notice changes, they can get help by calling Lakeview’s central client registration at 850-469-3500.