Age, Period, and Cohort Trends in Mood Disorder Indicators and Suicide- Related Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Dataset, 2005–2017

Age, Period, and Cohort Trends in Mood Disorder Indicators and Suicide- Related Outcomes in a Nationally Representative Dataset, 2005–2017

More teens, young adults report experiencing mental health issues

A nationwide survey of 600,000 people finds an uptick in the number of teens and young adults experiencing mental health problems. Here’s a rundown:

• The design: 200,000 people aged 12-17 and 400,000 people aged 18 and over were surveyed at various points between 2005 and 2017 about any psychological distress and depressive episodes they had experienced.
• The findings: Researchers found a 50 percent increase in depressive episodes in those 12-17. There was a slightly bigger jump to 63 percent in adults 18-25. That age group also experienced a 70 percent increase in more serious issues, such as suicidal thoughts.
• The takeaway: The researchers hypothesize that increased digital media use may be partly to blame for these shifts, but say that more research is needed to to understand technology's role.