Almost Three Quarters of Adolescents Experience Depression or Anxiety

Mental health disorders are now more common than ever before in history, and awareness has grown just as much. But the latest study from Australia reports staggering figures. Almost three-quarters of adolescents experience clinically significant symptoms of depression or anxiety, with most being chronic.

Although the study was based in Australia, this may give a glimpse into how much of a global pandemic mood disorders are quickly becoming globally.

And these aren't mild symptoms.

The researchers from Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) found that most adolescents have chronic depression or anxiety, with 64% experiencing symptoms at least three times across their adolescent years.

Girls have a higher risk

The numbers are not so appealing for girls either. While adolescent boys have a 61% risk of depression or anxiety, girls have a staggering 84% risk.

But gender aside, this is a public health concern that needs more than just reactive efforts now. What we need is preventative strategies.

Why?

Mental health problems in adolescence have been associated with impaired mental health, lower life satisfaction, and generally poorer quality of life in adulthood.

Also, we can see that most of these adolescents experience depressive symptoms multiple times, even before reaching adulthood.

Imagine the emotional turmoil and agony these people get to experience, all from such a tender age.

What's more?

The onset of anxiety and depression symptoms coincided with educational stress such as exam periods, primary to secondary school transition, and the end of compulsory education (equivalent to high school in the US). Also, we must realize that young people of this era are subjected to a social environment and pressure different from what older generations lived in.

From the above, we can deduce that the growing incidence of mental health problems has a root cause that’s present in our era and absent in older ones.

But what exactly?

Dr. Ellie Robson concluded, "Adolescents today are growing up in a distinctly different psychosocial landscape than earlier generations, one that is characterized by greater mental health literacy, reduced stigma, and at times a glamorization of mental health problems. Given this context, our next step will be to explore what impact these reported symptoms have on the functioning and health outcomes of contemporary adolescents."

Key takeaway

Although the research was based in Australia, this study reports the highest rate of clinical depression and anxiety that has ever been recorded in any country. And few studies before it have ever followed up with participants throughout their adolescent years.

So it won't come as a surprise if Americans are already living with similar numbers. Research or not, we already know the rate of mental health problems in the US is grave (more than 1 in 5 adults).

If you're living with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or any other mental health concern, know that you're not alone. And help is waiting.

We would like to talk to you.

Give us a call today.

Author

Satu H. Woodland, PMHCNS-BC, APRN Satu Woodland is owner and clinician of Hope Mental Health, an integrative mental health practice located at Bown Crossing in Boise, Idaho. She sees children, adolescents, and adults.  Ms. Woodland with her background in nursing, prefers a holistic and integrative approach to mental health care that addresses the mind and body together. While Ms. Woodland provides medication management services in all her patients, she believes in long-lasting solutions that include a number of psychotherapies, namely cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure and response prevention therapy, attention to lifestyle, evidenced based alternative psychiatric care and spirituality. If you’d like to gain control over your mental health issues, call Hope Mental Health at 208-918-0958, or use the online scheduling tool to set up an initial consultation.