Youth Anxiety & Depression: Why Teens Feel the Pressure
- bonnielenyard
- May 9
- 1 min read
The latest CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that 40 % of U.S. high-schoolers felt persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2023, and 20 % seriously considered suicide— numbers that have trended upward for a decade.CDC Social media comparison, academic stress, and post-pandemic adjustment top the list of drivers. As a Psychiatric-MentalHealth Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), I see teens internalize these pressures, often masking distress until it erupts as panic, self-harm, or substance use. 5 tips to watch or try 1. Screen early. Ask simple mood-scale questions at every pediatric or school-nurse visit. 2. Limit doom-scrolling. One tech-free hour before bed improves sleep and lowers anxious rumination. 3. Model coping aloud. Parents who say, “I’m stressed, so I’m taking a walk,” teach emotional self-regulation. 4. Normalize therapy. Introduce counseling as routine wellness, not crisis only. 5. Build micro-connections. A daily five-minute check-in (“High-Low-Buffalo”) boosts family closeness and teen resilience.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 in the U.S. or seek emergency care
