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According to the latest statistics,
Approximately one in five teens (aged 12 to 18) suffer from at least one mental health disorder. Mental health disorders can have a significant impact on daily life and overall wellbeing, and depending on what type, may affect relationships, physical health, academic performance, etc.
Percentage of college students with symptoms of depression in the United States in 2020 to 2021
11.8% of young adults aged 18-25. 18.8% of high school students.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 2017, more than 18 million students were enrolled in college in the U.S. According to figures compiled by Statista, nearly three out of four of these students have experienced a sense of “overwhelming anxiety” at some time, and just under 30% report having felt overwhelming …
The survey also found that: Anxiety is the top presenting concern among college students (41.6 percent), followed by depression (36.4 percent) and relationship problems (35.8 percent).
Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental illnesses and affect 25 percent of all teens and 30 percent of all teen girls. In fact, many experts are seeing a rise in the level of anxiety and the incidence of anxiety disorders in both adults and teenagers, and there are many possible explanations.
According to a recent study, 9 out of 10 college students in the United States experience stress during the school year. Somewhat surprisingly, “only” 75% of adults have reported feeling stressed out. Stress among college students is a significant health issue, and authorities should not take this problem lightly.
On our own Student Life in America survey, over 50% of students reported feeling stressed, 25% reported that homework was their biggest source of stress, and on average teens are spending one-third of their study time feeling stressed, anxious, or stuck.
An NCAA survey in 2015 found 30% of participating student-athletes reported feeling seriously overwhelmed during the past month. A third struggled to find energy for other tasks because of the physical and psychological demands of their sport. Nearly 25% felt mentally exhausted.
Mental illnesses are common in the United States. Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (51.5 million in 2019).
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Figure 2.
At least one in five youth aged 9–17 years currently has a diagnosable mental health disorder that causes some degree of impairment; one in 10 has a disorder that causes significant impairment. The most common mental illnesses in adolescents are anxiety, mood, attention, and behavior disorders.
A survey of 1577 students found 26.8% of the students met criteria for major (clinical) depression, with 3.4% having the biological melancholic sub-set depressive condition.
Follow the 3-3-3 rule
Start by looking around you and naming three things you can see. Then listen. What three sounds do you hear? Next, move three parts of your body, such as your fingers, toes, or clench and release your shoulders.
Many factors increase the risk of developing or triggering teen depression, including: Having issues that negatively impact self-esteem, such as obesity, peer problems, long-term bullying or academic problems. Having been the victim or witness of violence, such as physical or sexual abuse.
Up to 44% of college students reported having symptoms of depression and anxiety.
According to the survey data, 56 percent of the students considered homework a primary source of stress. The remaining students viewed tests and the pressure to get good grades as the primary stressors. Notably, less than 1 percent of the students said homework was not a stressor.
31.9% of teens have some type of anxiety disorder. 8.3 % of those with an anxiety disorder have severe impairment as a result. 38% of female teens have an anxiety disorder. 26.1% of male teens have an anxiety disorder.
“The findings were troubling: Research showed that excessive homework is associated with high stress levels, physical health problems and lack of balance in children’s lives; 56% of the students in the study cited homework as a primary stressor in their lives,” according to the CNN story.
Typically, 11th grade is the “most stressful” for students as that is the year they take the SAT test, M-Step and Workkeys tests in the spring.
What are the new findings? The prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in current elite athletes ranges from 19% for alcohol misuse to 34% for anxiety/depression. The prevalence of mental health symptoms and disorders in former elite athletes ranges from 16% for distress to 26% for anxiety/depression.
For some student-athletes, the psychological response to injury can trigger or unmask serious mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and substance use or abuse.
The survey found that athletes were significantly more likely to report ‘high to very high’ psychological distress compared to general community norms (17.15 per cent versus 9.5 per cent), and more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety at a level that would warrant professional health care.
Mental health and substance use disorders affect 13% of the world’s population. That number could increase as people around the world shelter in place and adjust to a new normal amid the coronavirus pandemic.
One way to combat mental health is to become knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms. If students are taught about mental health in school they will be able to identify issues with their peers and themselves, and educators will be better equipped to distinguish if a student is struggling.