ATLANTA, Ga. – In an 89-page document released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 3 in 5 U.S. teenage girls felt “persistently sad or hopeless in 2021—double that of boys, representing a nearly 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade.”
2021 covered the pandemic timeframe when many students experienced changes in home life and schooling, including some adapting to the hybrid model of in-person and online learning. The CDC’s new report also confirmed ongoing and extreme distress among LGBQ+ teens, who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning.
The CDC also reported the following data statistics:
- Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) seriously considered attempting suicide—up nearly 60% from a decade ago.
- 1 in 5 (18%) experienced sexual violence in the past year—up 20% since 2017, when CDC started monitoring this measure.
- More than 1 in 10 (14%) had ever been forced to have sex—up 27% since 2019 and the first increase since CDC began monitoring this measure.
“Young people are experiencing a level of distress that calls on us to act with urgency and compassion,” said CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health Director Kathleen Ethier, Ph.D, in their release this month. “With the right programs and services in place, schools have the unique ability to help our youth flourish.”
Dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health-related issue or in need of crisis support, call or text 988. You can also chat with someone confidentially and free without any charge at 988lifeline.org.
988 is available 24/7/365.
