Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation findings indicate that there has been a marked increase recently in light of gun violence and the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent years, many adolescents have experienced worsened emotional health, increased stress and a lack of peer connection. Other mental health and substance use concerns are on the rise, including drug overdose deaths, self-harm and eating disorders. Simultaneously, adolescents are spending more time on screens and many report adverse experiences such as parental abuse, hunger and job loss, all of which can be linked to poor mental health outcomes.
Here are some additional key takeaways:
- Deaths due to drug overdose among youth nearly doubled in the first year of the pandemic, likely driven by illicit fentanyl.
- Drug overdose deaths have increased across all racial and ethnic groups, and particularly among Hispanic and Black adolescents.
- Although drug overdose deaths among youth increased from 2019 to 2020, the use of some other substances has declined in the last decade.
- Deaths due to suicide increased from 2010 to 2018 and then slowed in 2019 and 2020. And these death rates have increased across all racial and ethnic groups. Among adolescents, males and those living in non-metropolitan areas experienced much higher suicide rates than their respective peers.
- Self-harm and suicide attempts have increased, particularly among females.
- The share of adolescents experiencing anxiety and/or depression has increased over time but remained relatively stable in the first year of the pandemic.
- Eating disorders, which commonly co-occur with anxiety, have increased during the pandemic, particularly among adolescent females.
- In 2021, many high school students reported adverse experiences, particularly female and LGBTQ+ students.
- Gun violence continues to rise and may lead to negative mental health impacts among children and adolescents.
- Leading up to the pandemic, access to mental health care varied across demographics. Similarly, during the pandemic, access and utilization of mental health care may have worsened.
