Before the pandemic, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people, according to a Surgeon General’s Office report. Rates for anxiety and depression grew 3 percentage points between 2003 and 2012. By 2019, one in five children ages 3-17 had a reported mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers cited in the Surgeon General’s report point to the growing use of digital media, increasing academic pressure, and limited access to mental health care. Other stressors mentioned as causes for worsening mental health among young people include rising income inequality, racism, gun violence, and climate change.
