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Teenage girls are experiencing record high levels of persistent sadness.

A report from the CDC found that 57% of teenage girls in the US felt hopeless or persistently sad in 2021, that’s a 60% increase over the past ten years.   

“The numbers in this report are staggering. It is important to note that these are self-report data, and there may be some exaggeration in some of the numbers. Still, there are larger-than-expected increases in persistent sadness and hopelessness,” Shane Owens, PhD, a board certified psychologist in behavioral and cognitive psychology told Theravive. 

“Several things contribute to the increase in girls' reports of mental health problems. First, the pandemic has been brutal on all of us and maybe harder on girls because they tend to be more social than boys. Girls also use social media differently. The dangers of social media, including social comparison and cyberbullying, may be more intense for girls.” 

Data from the CDC found that increases in suicidal thoughts and behaviors, experiences of violence and mental health challenges were reported by all teenagers, but girls were more impacted than boys. 

“Brain research indicates that females are more responsive to emotional stimuli than males. Compared to young males, young females mature faster in the realm of emotional sensitivity, and it is posited that this maturational difference plays a part in the disproportionate feeling of persistent sadness in girls (57%) versus boys (29%),” Carla Marie Manly, PhD, a clinical psychologist, told Theravive. 

“Although increased emotional sensitivity allows females to nurture and tune in to others’ needs, the downside is increased vulnerability to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.  As well, onset of puberty and related hormone fluctuations create stressors of their own that leave teen girls extremely vulnerable to depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and more.” 

52% of LGBQT+ students reported experiencing poor mental health and one in five had attempted suicide in the past 12 months. 

Sexual violence is also on the rise, with a 20% increase in the number of teen girls who experienced sexual violence between 2017 and 2022. 

30% of teen girls had seriously considered attempting suicide, while 18% had experienced sexual violence in the past year. 14% had experienced being forced to have sex. That is a 27% increase since 2019, when the CDC began monitoring that particular measure. 

The CDC report notes that with 95% of young people spending the majority of their daily life at school, school based initiatives could offer support to teenagers in distress. 

“Schools must be places where girls feel and are safe. Everyone from the custodian to the school resource officer to the superintendent is responsible for making that happen. Too often, those responsibilities fall only on guidance counselors, social workers, and psychologists. Enacting common sense anti-bullying policies and policies to support equality, equity, and respect for everyone are a good start,” Owens said. 

“Schools should also be places where we talk openly and truthfully about health and safety. We should speak of those things in all classes. We’ll likely have more engaging discussions about mental health and sex in English or history than health or physical education. In general, schools should be places in which everyone is free, healthy, and safe. Because schools are already overtaxed by educational requirements, partnering with outside professionals or agencies is vital. Many community-based professionals in most places would like to help if offered the opportunity.” 

Manly, who is also the author of Joy From Fear, says parents can also play an important role in providing their teenagers with support. 

“Listen and be present. Anxiety and depression can be reduced when parents listen nonjudgmentally and make emotional space for their children to talk, vent, or “just be.” When parents ask thoughtful, open-ended questions, a teen often responds in the moment or even hours or days later. For example, a parent might say, “I’ve noticed that you seem anxious, and I’m free to talk if that sounds good to you. What’s going on for you lately?”  When talking with teens, it’s important to steer clear of multi-tasking, make great eye contact, avoid being pushy, and listen fully without being critical.”