Recent Trends in Mental Health and Substance Use Concerns Among Adolescents Nirmita Panchal Published: Feb 06, 2024

https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/recent-trends-in-mental-health-and-substance-use-concerns-among-adolescents/?utm_campaign=KFF-Covid&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=292970487&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9imlDIToxO9W8MhZAWgPfvd_GR3wfkPSWWOlG7maWxnNUR12KoR1yslJ7xDTEGBfqZtwh34W_gQB8-evKMuoPgxXQpdw&utm_content=292970487&utm_source=hs_email CONTACT: Chris Lee | 202.654.1403 | ChrisL@kff.org Roughly 1 in 5 Adolescents Report Experiencing Symptoms of Anxiety or Depression Although Some Are Getting Mental Health Care, Many Teenagers Say They Are Not Receiving the Therapy They Need About 1 in 5 adolescents report symptoms of anxiety or depression, according to a KFF analysis of a new federal survey of teen health. While some teens are getting mental health care, a significant share say they are not receiving the therapy they need due to costs, fear of what others will think, and/or not knowing how to get help. Data from the recently released Teen National Health Interview Survey from July 2021 to December 2022, reveals that 21% of adolescents ages 12-17 report experiencing symptoms of anxiety in the past two weeks, and 17% said they had symptoms of depression. Female adolescents were more than twice as likely as their male peers to report feelings of anxiety (31% vs. 12%) and depression (25% vs. 10%) during the survey period. Rates were highest among LGBT+ adolescents, with 43%reporting symptoms of anxiety and 37% saying they had symptoms of depression. The results of the survey -- unique in that they represent direct responses from adolescents themselves, rather than from their parents or guardians – come at a time of heightened concern about the state of American teenagers’ mental health.