Teenagers in the U.S. are suffering from mental health problems that remain elevated above their previous state, despite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2026. Recent reports from psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals in the USA have shown that the difficulties experienced by adolescents related to their mental health are no longer thought of as a temporary increase related to COVID-19, but rather as a prolonged, serious public health emergency.
Across America, parents of adolescents and healthcare providers alike have indicated that adolescents are increasingly experiencing significant levels of anxiety, feelings of emptiness and loneliness, and high levels of social pressure to succeed in school and the workforce, which are associated with the stress related to navigating through the internet and social media at this time in their lives. Other studies have reported that 83% of adolescents cite their education and academic performance as a source of high levels of anxiety and subsequent psychological distress. Additionally, the number of adolescent girls who have made visits for self-inflicted injury to emergency rooms continues to remain significantly greater than the rate of visits prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The most troubling statistic to reflect on has to do with the considerable number of adolescents that are experiencing mental health problems that are not receiving appropriate mental health treatment. According to public studies, approximately 60% of youth ages 12-17 with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder are experiencing a current depressive episode without receiving mental health treatment.
The mental health treatment deficit of adolescents who are members of ethnic minorities or from low-income families is even greater than that of adolescents in the general population. Moreover, parents seeking mental health services for their adolescent child often report having challenges finding adequately qualified either in-network or out-of-network providers when accessing an adolescent in-network provider, as the providers are either not accepting new patients, are not located in the same geographic area as the adolescent, do not accept that particular health plan, or have a lengthy waiting list for treatment after the initial appointment.
Frontline clinicians are stating that mental health treatment for teenagers must go beyond having an additional source of therapists; it requires establishment of ways for the community, schools, and pediatric offices to provide mental health assistance as part and parcel of their services. Groups of clinics are trying to assist in providing mental health assistance through providing group programs for anxiety and depression, partnerships with schools so that therapists can provide services on their campuses, and telehealth services designed for teenagers who may not feel comfortable going to a clinic or therapist’s office. Youth are also beginning to learn how to provide support to other youth in the community.
Instead of disregarding mood swings or fluctuations as “normal teenage behavior,” many parents are learning to recognize the warning signs or indicators that a youth is struggling with mental health issues: withdrawing from family, friends, or school; increasing sleep problems; significant decline in report or semester grades; and talking about “not being here” anymore, and that they should respond to concerns regarding their children’s mental health or well‑being with a sense of urgency.
Although there continue to be many disturbing statistics that reflect a concerning situation…there are also many signs of hope. Youths have begun to discuss their personal experiences with mental health care issues (therapy and self‑care), create social media clubs that provide support to others, and advocate for their friends to seek therapy and/or self‑care. Many health care providers are stating that improving access to mental health care will demonstrate the many positive qualities that teens possess: insight, honesty, and resiliency. The challenge will be to ensure that youths have access to the required resources at the moment they express how they are feeling by saying, “I want help”.
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