How can 1/3 teen girls be suicidal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not a teen but I have had intermittent periods of suicidal ideation throughout my lifespan. You would never know it by looking at me

+1 me too, and my husband.

+1, and mine were more than fleeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Social media. It’s a different beast and it created a different dangerous trajectory heightened by pandemic during lockdown.

We never had a lock down. We were asked to stay home a few weeks and business were closed. You could still go out and do what you want. The pandemic has been over two years. Find something new to blame. Either you are part of the problem or solution.

Oh please.

Stop being so patronizing to other parents. Maybe your teen went to a private that stayed open but I know so many parents who were able to control social media usage prior to the pandemic but that all went out the window. Many of our children were in online school for up to two years and were no longer able to control it. It was the main form of social connection for so many youth that many of us allowed it. Plus many sports, School music and other activities were cancelled. Our church youth group did not meet for two years in person.

Even friends with children who were in college said it deeply affected them as well as so many normal social college activities were sharply restricted.

Plus many youth lost parents and grandparents to COVID.

It was an extremely traumatic time for many people and especially hard for youth.

The record mental health crisis stats speak for themselves .

Also, being part of the solution requires understanding and acknowledging how factors specific to teens' pandemic experience harmed mental health. One thing that is contributing to poor mental health in teens of both genders is denying that teens lost experience that are essential to their development and pretending that everything was suddenly just fine when pandemic restrictions were removed.

Stop blaming the pandemic. How did it hurt your kids! Few kids are still in being careful. My family still is. The pandemic isn’t the problem. People like you are who refuse to be part of the solution. Mental health issues have been around many many years. There is a huge genetic component as well as lifestyle.

Are you kidding? I don't deny that mental health problems existed before the pandemic or that there is a huge genetic component. I had episodes of anxiety and depression before the pandemic. However, the pandemic exacerbated them so badly that I had to be hospitalized and transferred to a residential treatment center for 3 months. I am still recovering because you don't go through something like that and just go back to normal. I honestly feel like I will never be ok again. And I'm a grown woman. I can't imagine how much worse it is for teens who have a predisposition towards mental health problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suicide rates have declined.

https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html

This link shows that overall rates declined a little bit between 2018-2020 after rising steadily year after year since 2020. Your link tells me nothing about the marked rise in suicidal thoughts and persistent sadness among teenage girls, which is what we’re talking about here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t have a teen daughter struggling, congratulations! You did it! You avoided all the things that cause girls to experience a mental health crisis. Your prize: you get to speculate on what causes these problems for all those other girls. Their parents, mostly the moms, for allowing Social media in their lives, for not paying enough attention, for pressuring them to get good grades. For you, this speculation is based on research studies you read - you get to be right no matter what you think because your daughter isn’t struggling. You win.

If your daughter is struggling - I see you. I am you. I’m fighting this battle alone in my house just as you are fighting it alone in yours. Sadly, there are so many of us. The people who aren’t in this fight don’t know or see it, and their ignorance and speculation just adds to the pain. I wish we could connect because this is excruciating.

Stop blaming social media. It’s not that simple.

I wasn’t blaming social media. I was saying that those who aren’t in this fight for real are blaming social media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok a few important points
1. Severe Mental health problems already affecting 20% of young people
Prior to the pandemic
2. The Pandemic gave rise to conditions that led to this rate of depression and suicide more than doubling.
3. The Pandemic did not have same degree of Impacts on all youth - upper middle class families were better able to insulate their kids through affording private schools that went in person much earlier and having more resources to do things like escape to the beach/ lake and get medical help. Vulnerable children and youth include those from poor and unstable Family units, youth with LDs/ autism and preexisting mental health conditions, BIPOC, and LGBTQ youth.


Kids’ mental health is in crisis. Here’s what psychologists are doing to help
Research is focused on child and teen mental health, exploring why they are struggling and what can be done to help them
By Zara Abrams
Date created: January 1, 2023

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/01/trends-improving-youth-mental-health

The COVID-19 pandemic era ushered in a new set of challenges for youth in the United States, leading to a mental health crisis as declared by the United States surgeon general just over a year ago. But U.S. children and teens have been suffering for far longer.
In the 10 years leading up to the pandemic, feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness—as well as suicidal thoughts and behaviors—increased by about 40% among young people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System.
“We’re seeing really high rates of suicide and depression, and this has been going on for a while,” said psychologist Kimberly Hoagwood, PhD, a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine. “It certainly got worse during the pandemic.”


The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children’s Mental Health What We Know So Far

Practicing Prevention and Building Resilience
Even before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, mental health professionals were struggling to meet the needs of the one in five children and adolescents with a mental health or learning disorder. Then the pandemic hit, bringing an upsurge in youth reporting mental health challenges. In surveys now, about 30–40% of young people say they feel anxious, depressed and/or stressed. Parents tell the same story when asked about their kids.

The pace of disruption in our world is increasing, not slowing down. How can we reduce the mental health impacts of the next global public health crisis — and the remainder of this one?

The first step is to identify who is most affected. The Child Mind Institute has been devoted to tracking the impact of COVID-19 on youth and families since the first days of the pandemic. The research highlighted in the 2021 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report demonstrates that the most negative impacts of the pandemic have been concentrated in uniquely vulnerable populations. Who are they? Poor kids. BIPOC kids. LGBTQ+ kids. Kids with unstable home lives. Kids with mental health disorders like anxiety, depression or ADHD — especially those who don’t get treatment. Kids with learning disabilities. Kids with autism.

The next step is determining how to help them weather the coming storms. We cannot solve the factors that contribute to risk — poverty, stigma, racism — all at once. Instead, we must focus on protecting at-risk youth and fostering their resilience. How?

Key Takeaways
The pandemic has had meaningful impacts on mental health, but not everyone has been affected to the same degree or in the same way.

Economic instability, living in an area hit harder by the virus, and preexisting mental health problems are some of the most notable risk factors for adults experiencing mental health challenges during the pandemic.

There is less information about children’s mental health specifically, but the available data indicate that many of the same risk factors apply.

However, research and historical context also suggest that young people are resilient and that many (especially those with fewer risk factors) will likely emerge from the pandemic without significant mental health challenges.

https://childmind.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CMHR-2021-FINAL.pdf

Reminder: here is consensus of experts so far regarding mental health crisis among youth especially girls:

1. Severe Mental health problems were already affecting 20% of young people Prior to the pandemic;
2. The Pandemic gave rise to conditions that led to this rate of depression, self harming and suicidal ideation more than doubling;
3. The Pandemic did not have same degree of Impacts on all youth - upper middle class families were better able to insulate their kids through affording private schools that went in person much earlier and having more resources to do things like escape to the beach/ lake and get medical help. Especially Vulnerable groups of children and youth include those from poor and unstable Family units, youth with LDs/ autism and preexisting mental health conditions such as anxiety, BIPOC, and LGBTQ youth.

[Anonymous]

Reminder: here is consensus of experts so far regarding mental health crisis among youth especially girls:

1. Severe Mental health problems were already affecting 20% of young people Prior to the pandemic;
2. The Pandemic gave rise to conditions that led to this rate of depression, self harming and suicidal ideation more than doubling;
3. The Pandemic did not have same degree of Impacts on all youth - upper middle class families were better able to insulate their kids through affording private schools that went in person much earlier and having more resources to do things like escape to the beach/ lake and get medical help. Especially Vulnerable groups of children and youth include those from poor and unstable Family units, youth with LDs/ autism and preexisting mental health conditions such as anxiety, BIPOC, and LGBTQ youth.

My child fell into two of the at risk categories and the Pandemic definitely exacerbated her pre existing mental health challenges despite our best efforts to help her to manage her feelings. I could see some of her peers did much better. Others in vulnerable groups also struggled. The Pandemic did not have same degree of negative impacts on all youth.

We are moving in right direction now but it has required a lot of ongoing therapy and medical assistance, changing schools and adjusting expectations. We now care much more about her current happiness/ emotional regulation than about striving towards future goals. Any college where she can feel successful and independent will be great. Facilities to help teens with mental health issues are overflowing and there are long wait lists for good teen psychiatrists and therapists.

Agree with PP who congratulated those whose children have bounced back and are flourishing. Well done to those youth and parents. To those of you with children who are struggling to regain their senses of happiness and inner stability - we fight the good fight with you. May all our children find their ways and may they all have a chance for their unique lights to shine.

[Anonymous]

How many of these young girls are on birth control? Girls are going on bc as young as 13 (my DD at 16 says "she is the only one in her friend group not on it). BC greatly impacts a teens thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of these young girls are on birth control? Girls are going on bc as young as 13 (my DD at 16 says "she is the only one in her friend group not on it). BC greatly impacts a teens thinking.

OMG. STOP. Seriously.

If your kid is struggling, you know why. And it’s none of these crazy things you all are throwing out. You are speculating. And the parents in it are telling you why, yet you all just keep going. Be grateful you just get to wonder!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suicide rates have declined.

https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/suicide-data-statistics.html

Prepandemic data though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My teenage neighbor committed suicide a few years ago, and having witnessed the unspeakable anguish that the parents have dealt with, and will have to carry with them for the rest of their lives, it breaks my heart that some would think it was their fault. This is so incredibly complex and intertwined with lots of factors. For people to just point fingers is not helpful.

Yes the finger pointing is shameful.

We need to try and understand what is going on and open up communication channels in honest ways that feel safe for our girls.

Blaming moms is nuts when it is connected to so much outside their control - pandemic, social media run in unregulated unscrupulous ways due to corporate greed, online misogyny and over sexualization of girls/ women resulting in more sexual assaults , and decline in real life safe spaces and social situations for girls/ young women.

Absentee parenting is not working for most children. Parents need to be the primary caregivers early on, not daycares and nannies.

I did all of the theoretical perfect mom stuff - stopped work to care for kids, volunteered in every class/ school, ran a girls scout troop, organized endless play dates, and social get togethers, organized nice birthday parties, volunteered with our DD - we were still Hammered by the Pandemic, reduced healthy social interactions during critical time in development and social media toxicity. Our DD is on better path now but it is requiring a lot of therapy, medical treatment, and finding healthier ways to manage emotions.

I agree with PPs that this crisis is way larger than any one person’s parenting style.

Finger pointing is not helpful and not accurate.

This isn’t pandemic related. Be real. Kids struggle. Parenting plays a huge factor in it. Recognizing your child is struggling and get them help.

Many child psychiatrists and pediatricians strongly disagree with you

Think of how many kids were exposed to poor parenting during lockdowns when they had no outlet for friends and trusted teachers. Domestic issues, alcoholism, parents under extreme stress with health and financial worries. Even if you think parenting “plays a huge factor”, then you can acknowledge that the pandemic and parenting are related.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Social media + lack of religion + general degradation of human morality and basic decency towards others.

Sad state of the world we live in.

My religion teaches suicide is a sin. And teaches hope, and bringing your problems to God.

Keep religion out of this. It doesn't belong here. Religion has been a source of trauma and mental illness for many, many, MANY people.

Not np. As religion has been a source of great strength for many, but your desire to sweep people's belief systems under the proverbial carpet is interesting and reflective on today's society and quite possibly, why our DD feel they have no where to turn.

DP - this is the truth. When every relationship has to stand for or against something, it is much more difficult to form meaningful connections. That's a big part of the problem.

+3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t have a teen daughter struggling, congratulations! You did it! You avoided all the things that cause girls to experience a mental health crisis. Your prize: you get to speculate on what causes these problems for all those other girls. Their parents, mostly the moms, for allowing Social media in their lives, for not paying enough attention, for pressuring them to get good grades. For you, this speculation is based on research studies you read - you get to be right no matter what you think because your daughter isn’t struggling. You win.

If your daughter is struggling - I see you. I am you. I’m fighting this battle alone in my house just as you are fighting it alone in yours. Sadly, there are so many of us. The people who aren’t in this fight don’t know or see it, and their ignorance and speculation just adds to the pain. I wish we could connect because this is excruciating.

Stop blaming social media. It’s not that simple.

OMG. JUST STOP. Seriously??!?

You are obviously quite into your Insta or TikTok; you gave it to your kids, and now you feel guilty about it because you know you can’t stop.

It has a name: addiction.

Social media is a major - if not THE major contributor to the teen suicide crisis right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you don’t have a teen daughter struggling, congratulations! You did it! You avoided all the things that cause girls to experience a mental health crisis. Your prize: you get to speculate on what causes these problems for all those other girls. Their parents, mostly the moms, for allowing Social media in their lives, for not paying enough attention, for pressuring them to get good grades. For you, this speculation is based on research studies you read - you get to be right no matter what you think because your daughter isn’t struggling. You win.

If your daughter is struggling - I see you. I am you. I’m fighting this battle alone in my house just as you are fighting it alone in yours. Sadly, there are so many of us. The people who aren’t in this fight don’t know or see it, and their ignorance and speculation just adds to the pain. I wish we could connect because this is excruciating.

Stop blaming social media. It’s not that simple.

OMG. JUST STOP. Seriously??!?

You are obviously quite into your Insta or TikTok; you gave it to your kids, and now you feel guilty about it because you know you can’t stop.

It has a name: addiction.

Social media is a major - if not THE major contributor to the teen suicide crisis right now.

I have a suicidal daughter. I have zero social media accounts myself, have never opened one.

My daughter has some social media accounts. She's not a huge user of social media. She is very aware of how toxic it is.

Her mental health issues were 100% caused by a sexual assault.

Does social media help? NO. It is definitely NOT the cause. And all the other girls we know who are struggling - it's not the cause for them either.

It doesn't sound like you have a kid who is struggling with serious mental health. That's to be celebrated. Truly. But it also allows you to stand in judgement of things you know nothing about. To make yourself feel like it can't happen to you. Fine - that's your privilege. But the judgement and ignorance in your post is astounding to those of us who are living this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You two a just dismissing it. Girls struggle in high school. Lots to do with age and hormones and everything else. Add in a pandemic and social media and there are girls you both know who are struggling. They've always been there. They are just being taken seriously now-- or not.

It's always been there but it's more talked about. The pandemic is long over so you need a new talking point.

The pandemic is NOT "long over". It only moved from "pandemic" to "endemic" in the last few months. And it was unlike anyone in the current generations have ever gone through and we are still going through waves of even SEEING and FEELING the impacts of it on ourselves and our children as a whole. Maybe not you, maybe not your family, but in both the physical health fields and mental health fields practictioners are busier than they've ever been and the needs keep growing AND evolving. The pandemic didn't cause all of them, but they caused some and greatly exacerbated others.

Don't tell people they need a new talking point - what happened and worsened during and since the pandemic is way too real and CURRENT for anyone to act like it's old news.

The rest of your point is true, the struggles and suicidal thoughts have always been there, but not talked about nearly as much. But also the rates ARE increasing. They weren't this high or this level of common before, even factoring in for cultural stigma to even discussing it, where that stigma is far less now (but still there).

[Anonymous]

In addition this survey was done in the fall of 2021. When the pandemic was not long over.

That said I have 4 teen girls who were middle school and high school in 2020 when schools shut. Still dealing with the aftermath of the (long over?) pandemic and the social repercussions. They are like puppies who never met another dog and lost all their social cues. Coming back but still slightly feral.