These days, it seems as though all the kids and teenagers are depressed, anxious, or have some other mental illness. Did the COVID-19 pandemic start this? Why are 1 in 6 children in the U.S. diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder?
According to the CDC, 37% of 12-17-year-olds had “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness”, 19% seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9% attempted suicide.
Why?
As a member of Gen Z (and a psychology student), I think I can offer some possible explanations for the increased mental health diagnoses and struggles.
Generation Z is the first generation to grow up with smartphones and social media whereas previous generations were not introduced until their late teens or older, and this is significant. Social media has created an environment for children and teenagers to compare themselves to unrealistic standards—from how their body looks to the material possessions of wealthy influencers.
Additionally, younger adults see people in other countries enjoying inexpensive healthcare, month-long vacations, paid parental leave, functional public transportation, faith in their government, and more; all these things might lead to feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, or depression. This doesn’t necessarily mean I think people should ditch social media, but we should all be more aware of how it might impact our mood and self-esteem.
With access to social media comes extra exposure to violence in the world. Not only did I watch 9/11 footage AND practiced lockdown drills every year since elementary school, but I have had access to videos of bombings, terrorism, and war attacks online for years. I can scroll through TikTok and see videos of burnt bodies in Palestine, body cam footage from a school shooting, and domestic violence survivors sharing their stories, and these things have to add to the anxiety felt by today’s young people.
I don’t think humans, especially children, were meant to have such exposure to violence and sadness as they do in 2024. We should stay informed, and we should be aware of the ugly things that happen in our world; however, sometimes I wonder if we have taken it too far.
Everyone you meet is going to have different opinions based on their own life experiences, so disagreements regarding the severity of mental health struggles amongst today’s youth are inevitable. Disagreements are okay though, as long as we are fair and respectful within those conversations like we were during today’s show!
If you would like to hear the conversation, click the player below and start listening at 54 minutes.
