Report: Teen Girls Face Record High Levels of Sadness, Violence

“The isolation and stress from the pandemic really took a toll on mental health,” PattonSmith observed. “This led to increased depression, anxiety, and domestic violence. And so, it showed that the long-term impact of trauma increases depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.”

To reverse the trend in individual households, PattonSmith suggested parents check in often with their kids and have open and honest conversations to ensure they feel like they belong and can share their thoughts.

By Desert Star Staff

The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds teen girls are experiencing record-high levels of sadness and violence.

The report said 57% of teen girls in the U.S. said they felt “sad or hopeless” in 2021. The percentage is about twice that of boys and represents around a 60% increase from a decade earlier. In addition, the number of teen girls experiencing sexual violence rose by 20% between 2017 and 2021.

Dr. Asha PattonSmith, child psychiatrist for Kaiser Permanente, said the pandemic exacerbated the ongoing problems.

She noted one misconception is if a child is isolated, moody or sullen, it’s just “teenage angst.” However, she warned if it is persistent and teens are not doing things to take care of themselves, it could be a sign of something distressing.

Aside from the pandemic, doctors feel numerous factors have contributed to the decline of young people’s mental health.

Dr. Christina Brown, a pediatrician for Kaiser Permanente, finds the growth of social media, online games and smartphones are also factors. However, she cautioned children and teens to look beyond their screens to help maintain good mental health.

“Finding things that bring them joy -- getting out into the world, into nature, doing service projects -- seeing the bigger picture, not just what’s right in front of them in their high school world,” Brown advised.

Brown added families should not hesitate to reach out to guidance counselors, pediatricians and teachers if they have concerns about a teen’s mental health.