Data showed 57% of high school girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021 – a nearly 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade. In comparison, 29% of boys the same age reported the same feelings.
Dr. Debra Houry, the agency’s chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science said, “High school should be a time for trailblazing, not trauma. These data show our kids need far more support to cope, hope and thrive.”
The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey also found:
- 30% of girls seriously considered attempting suicide – a nearly 60% increase from a decade ago
- 18% experienced sexual violence in the past year – a 20% increase since 2017
- 14% had been forced to have sex – a 27% increase since 2019
John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center blames in large part social media calling it “devastatingly bad for young girls” adding, “I’m an all or nothing, especially for young girls when it comes to social media. There might be some reason to have a social media platform as a teenager….but to even have it at all and unregulated is the definition of insanity.”
His advice to parents of teenage girls, “just delete the app and do it for the for the sake of your kids. it is a constant source of stress, fear and uncertainty.”