A US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey has found that teen girls in the United States have been experiencing record-high levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk in recent years. The report also found “significant” and “heartbreaking” declines in youth health and well-being.
According to the data, 57 percent of high school girls regularly felt sad or hopeless in 2021. This is a nearly 60 percent increase and the highest level reported in the last ten years. When compared to boys, only 29 percent of them reported the same feelings.
Mental health challenges, experiences of violence, and suicidal thoughts and behavior have seen a rise among all teens, the report said. Over 40 percent of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless and said that the feelings prevented them from engaging in regular activities for at least two weeks of the year.
