A sense of isolation and loneliness, and the associated anxiety and depression, are growing everywhere and most unsettlingly among our youth.
Shocking data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2023 shows that nearly 60% of teenage girls felt sad or despair in 2021.
This issue is rarely limited to the US or North America.
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A deep-child-to-puberty transition study of adolescents recently published in Lancet Psychiatry (the first long-term study of its species) revealed Depression and anxiety It is the most discovered location to date, nearly two-thirds of people studying in Melbourne, Australia.
In this study, it is Murdoch Research and Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) In Melbourne, 64% of respondents reported at least three episodes of anxiety or depression throughout their teens.
A recently published study from The Murdoch Research Children’s Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne found that 64% of adolescent respondents reported at least three episodes of anxiety or depression throughout their teens. (MCRI)
Girls were found to be much more likely to have chronic or persistent symptoms (84% vs. 61% in boys).
Approximately 1,239 children were studied (registered at age 8 in 2012) and their symptoms were carefully followed from age 10 to 18.
This is the first major study to longitudinally follow anxiety and depression, and the first study that showed that periods of worsening anxiety and depression are associated with milestones such as graduation from elementary and high school. did. Children’s support structure.
Dr. Mark Siegel: “We’re in trouble with teenage girls.”
Dr. Susan M. Sawyer – Famous adolescent pediatrician, Leader of the Adolescent Health Centre at Murdoch Children’s Institute in Melbourne, Australia, Chair of Adolescent Health at the University of Melbourne and Royal Children’s Hospital – Me from Melbourne I spoke to. In a recent interview. (See the video at the top of this article.)
She emphasized that the reported reasons for increased anxiety were partially reflecting an increase in anxiety. Mental health literacy.
Dr. Susan M. Sawyer, a renowned adolescent health expert and pediatrician based in Australia, discussed the first major study following adolescent anxiety and depression. We have shown that worsening anxiety and depression are associated with major milestones in children’s lives, such as school graduation. (MCRI)
“There’s been a greater mental health literacy these days, which leads to more reports of symptoms,” she said. “And adolescents have a greater ability to recognize stress and emotional distress than we did and have the language to report it. There’s far less stigma, it’s healthy.”
Sawyer said she is considering an increase in the proportion of Anxiety and depression The 12-13-year-olds observed in this study may be caused by the stress of adolescent combinations and changes to secondary education.
“Pubescent years are the time to come up with ways to gain emotional control.”
“Girls are also more likely to explore emotions at this age than boys,” she said.
The teenage depression spikes are consistent with social media, with new polls suggesting “nowhere”
The old group called the second cluster, It was held at graduation From secondary school; emotional symptoms were measured with distinctive responses such as “scary,” “scary awakening scared,” and “fearing something bad would happen to me.”
“Pubescent years are the time to come up with ways to gain emotional control,” Sawyer said. “It’s time to seek mental health support. The ‘hard upper lip’ approach [older] The generation was not healthy. ”
“The longer you spend on social media, the less loneliness and connections you will be [people are]”Adolescent health experts said: “We need a system to slow young people’s access to social media.” (istock)
Unfortunately, as Sawyer pointed out, resources for intervention remain limited in Australia, the US and around the world.
COVID Pandemic It played a clear role in exacerbating the anxiety of our teens. However, a Melbourne-based CATS study found that one of the most severe pandemic lockdowns – only contributed about 25% to reported anxiety and depression.
The problem existed before the pandemic, but is now even worse.
Social Media Concerns
So, what role does social media play? The concern is good enough as Australia has enacted a social media ban on everyone under the age of 16. Sawyer and other experts say it’s not working.
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“It’s difficult to implement,” she said.
“And we still need more evidence, but the more time we spend on social media, the more lonely it becomes. There are few connections [people are]. There are several systems needed to slow the access of young people to social media,” she added.
Further research is underway on the role of social media at Australia’s MCRI. (istock)
“And we need to focus on their need to develop independent skills. [their] I own both feet without a phone. Our kids need a much safer place than social media. ”
Further research is underway on the role of social media at MCRI. Until then, children are not allowed Please answer the phone at school All of Australia.
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“Social media is a double-edged sword,” Dr. Sawyer said.
“On the other hand, groups that are more socially vulnerable and mutilated in conflict situations can connect with like-minded peers and connect via social media,” she said.
“Prevention, more attention to the physical environment, more nature, more sedentary, rethinking opportunities and focusing on happiness. This is a real step forward.” (istock)
“But on the other hand, more time spent in distant communities is not good for the health of young people. There is excessive exposure to porn, sexting and gambling. and bullying. We need to do something to help young people leave. ”
So, what is the long-term treatment for the epidemic in an anxious, depressed child and their parents when “clinical services must be prioritized, but unable to provide adequate responses”?
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Sawyer said the focus should be on prevention.
“Clinical responses need to be hidden by prevention. Schools need to be an important environment for stress. Health and happiness – To build a greater orientation towards mental health,” she said.
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“There is a risk of the appeal of mental health issues, but prevention will result in more attention to the physical environment, more qualities, sedentary, rethinking opportunities and focusing on happiness. This is a real step forward.”
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