Four in ten teens feel ‘persistently sad or hopeless,’ survey finds

The CDC is warning of a significant decline in the mental health of teens in the United States after enduring COVID-19, racial tension, and economic uncertainty in recent years.

A survey published by the CDC this week showed an alarming number of teens struggling with their mental health, with 4 in 10 teens saying they feel “persistently sad or hopeless,” and 1 in 5 saying they had contemplated suicide.

The survey of 7,700 teens taken in the first half of 2021 showed the adolescents in the USA are reeling from grief related to the pandemic, lack of social connection brought on by social distancing and isolation, food uncertainty, economic struggles and other factors brought on by COVID-19.

“These data echo a cry for help,” said Debra Houry, a CDC deputy director. “The COVID-19 pandemic has created traumatic stressors that have the potential to further erode students’ mental well-being.”