Compared to a decade ago, teens—especially girls—are more likely to report persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, as well as thoughts of or attempts at suicide, according to a new report by a team led by University College London (UCL). The Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 40% of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023, slightly down from 42% in 2021 but still 10 percentage points higher than a decade ago.
Dr. Niobe Way argues that boys need to be taught to be vulnerable and connected to other people.
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The report highlights that more than half of girls (53%) felt persistently sad or hopeless, compared to 28% of boys. Additionally, 20% of students seriously considered suicide, up from 17% in 2013. Although the numbers show slight improvement since the pandemic, the overall mental health outlook for teens remains concerning. Experts stress the importance of increasing mental health resources and fostering open communication between parents and teens to address these challenges.
