The Control Centers for Disease (CDC) announced new research on Feb. 13 that three in five teen girls have or are currently experiencing high levels of depression, which is double the amount of teen boys.
This is nearly a 60% increase in depression cases in girls, the highest level reported over the past decade.
“With any survey data, we have to consider potential factors that could impact the data produced. Interpersonal violence, especially sexual violence, is also a factor in these results,” Autumn Holmes, a counseling intern for the University of Wyoming Counseling Center, said.
“The CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey data indicates that teen girls are more depressed than teen boys. However, it is important to consider that boys and men are prone to underreporting their mental health problems,” she added.
In the study, the CDC acknowledged that most teens are currently in school, which is a big factor in one’s mental health, and encouraged them to reach out to people on their campus who can help, like the counseling center.
“A mental health professional can help you determine the best way to manage your depression, whether that be talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both. If professional help is not an option for you and you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to a crisis hotline for support,” Holmes said.“You are not alone.”
The CDC also announced that one in three girls considered suicide in the last year, one in five experienced sexual violence in the last year, and one in 10 of them were forced to have sex. All of these numbers were higher than they were a decade ago and are factors in why teen girls are experiencing feelings of depression.
“Depression looks different for everyone. Symptoms of depression can range from feelings of sadness or unhappiness to even feeling suicidal. Physical symptoms can include body aches, fatigue, losing your sex drive, or changes in sleep habits or eating,” Holmes said.
“It is beneficial to lean on healthy habits like getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night, eating well-balanced meals, and regularly exercising,” Holmes advised.
“Reaching out to your support system, whether that be friends or family, can be an important first step to creating connectedness when experiencing feelings of isolation that often come with depression.”
As a reminder, the suicide hotline number is 988 and is available to anyone anytime, free of charge.
