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Gottman Institute
USA Fact Box: Adolescent Mental Health Crisis
Surgeon General’s Advisory: On May 23rd, 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory highlighting the detrimental impact of social media on the mental health of American youth. The advisory notes that bullying on social media platforms has reached epidemic proportions.
CDC Report: In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported alarming mental health statistics among U.S. teenagers:
Teen Girls: 57% are experiencing high levels of violence, sadness, and hopelessness, significantly increasing their risk for suicide.
Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide, marking a 60% increase from a decade ago.
1 in 5 (20%) experienced sexual violence in the past year, up 20% since 2017.
More than 1 in 10 (14%) were forced to have sex, up 27% since 2019.
Teen Boys: 29% reported extreme sadness and hopelessness, noting a worrying increase from statistics dating back to 2011.
LGBTQ+ Adolescents: Continue to face extremely high levels of violence and mental health challenges, surpassing other demographic groups.
Implications for Parents:
This data illustrate a growing epidemic of adolescent mental health issues among teens. Parents are encouraged to become “emotion coaches,” helping adolescents navigate their emotional landscapes more effectively. This involves shifting away from the emotion-dismissing cultural norms and embracing a more empathetic and understanding approach to parenting.
