Do you ever wonder why teen anxiety and stress is so high these days? Over 70 percent of high school students in 2019 have anxiety. Making it the highest percentage of teens EVER that have anxiety. Anxiety keeps rising and is still rising today in teenagers. Modern society affects mental health of teenagers and young adults through electronics, school, and social life all affects the mental health of teens.
Anxiety in teens has been rising over the years. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 1 in 3 of all teens ages 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 80% of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder are not getting treatment―and anxiety disorders are highly treatable! As with most problems, the earlier it is diagnosed the easier it is to treat. The rate of hospital admissions for teens that tried or talked about commiting suicide has doubled over the past decade making it the highest percentage yet.
In 2019, kids aren’t learning emotional skills because they are too stuck on their phones and always on social media. Kids need to get out and do things with friends other than being on their phones 24/7. Constant access to digital devices lets kids escape uncomfortable emotions like boredom, loneliness, or sadness by immersing themselves in games when they are in the car or by chatting on social media when they are sent to their rooms.
Which is unhealthy because social media often stresses teens out. A lot of teens these days want to be like everyone else, and if they can’t it makes them feel bad about themselves.
While organized sports and clubs play an important role in kids’ lives, adults make and enforce the rules. Unstructured play teaches kids vital skills, like how to manage disagreements without an adult refereeing. Parents are very overprotective nowadays, they are scared of their child getting abducted, hurt, or even in to trouble. So that forces children to stay indoors which causes them to have no physical contact with any of their friends from school or around the neighborhood.
To summarize, anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health disorders. Electronics we have today don’t help with kids social skills or self confidence. Anxiety and depression is very curable, seeing a counselor is the best way to help with it. Modern society affects mental health of teenagers and young adults through electronics, school, and social life all affects the mental health of teens.