How can 1/3 teen girls be suicidal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Huh? You have 4 teenagers in your family who couldn't manage not going to school for a year and suffered 'social repercussions' because of that? Do you live on a deserted island?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Huh? You have 4 teenagers in your family who couldn't manage not going to school for a year and suffered 'social repercussions' because of that? Do you live on a deserted island?

I’m not the PP, but I really don’t understand your issue with her post. Anyone who can’t acknowledge that there are still shockwaves and repercussions from what happened in 2020 is completely delusional or just living a very charmed life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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).

.

Very well said

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Huh? You have 4 teenagers in your family who couldn't manage not going to school for a year and suffered 'social repercussions' because of that? Do you live on a deserted island?

What is your problem? To think think there were no repercussions from schools closing (two in DCPS who had zero in person school for over 1 year) and a mayor who banned all sports for kids their age-- which included private teams and a public which completely shut down. And then when school came back-- oh hell no. Hot mess. We weren't in Florida. We were in DC where people still wear masks while walking outside by themselves. Where parents desperately tried to get out of public schools to get into private because there was hope kids could go in person and the mayor fought hard to close schools too! Believe me for us the pandemic is over. Way way over. But the impact is lasts.

Yes they missed out on randomly very formative years in school. Teens are a mess now. I mean you can ignore it if you want.

[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.

My oldest just turned 25. Young teens being on BC is not new.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Huh? You have 4 teenagers in your family who couldn't manage not going to school for a year and suffered 'social repercussions' because of that? Do you live on a deserted island?

DP

Do you realize how tone deaf you sound?

The in-person school hiatus was longer than a year for many students. Many church/ social events / sport and fun social events were not in person for over two years. That is critical amount of time for teens .Some students were much more vulnerable than others. Sexual violence and online sexual harassment has risen.

The data evidence backs up PP’s experiences. Your mocking other parents with children (especially girls) who have suffered significant mental health challenges sounds like an adult mean girl …

[Anonymous]

I recall a distinct sadness and disorientation when I became sexualized in the eyes of society. My appearance became my identity, and it was truly dehumanizing. I felt a real loss. I was probably 13/14 when I recognized this happening.

I imagine this experience is pretty universal for teenage girls. It’s depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recall a distinct sadness and disorientation when I became sexualized in the eyes of society. My appearance became my identity, and it was truly dehumanizing. I felt a real loss. I was probably 13/14 when I recognized this happening.

I imagine this experience is pretty universal for teenage girls. It’s depressing.

IMO, it doesn't help that some of these girls wear such skimpy clothing. I know I know.. why punish girls for what they wear. That's not point. My point is that unfortunately, our society (men in particular) do sexualize girls and unfortunately, what the girls wear is more likely to draw that type of attention. It sucks, but that is the reality. We can teach our boys to not do that till we turn blue in the face, but we cannot teach other parents to teach their boys this. Social media makes it worse. Some girls do it to themselves by putting up sexualized images of themselves, and then you see people post negative things about them.

Stay off social media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Huh? You have 4 teenagers in your family who couldn't manage not going to school for a year and suffered 'social repercussions' because of that? Do you live on a deserted island?

Ask anyone that works in a high school — the kids have lost all social skills and the issues that are coming up are unprecedented. Don't even get me started on the kids that missed middle school and important social milestones. In addition, you have all of these parents that missed the growth right alone with their kids so they are treating high schoolers like elementary kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall a distinct sadness and disorientation when I became sexualized in the eyes of society. My appearance became my identity, and it was truly dehumanizing. I felt a real loss. I was probably 13/14 when I recognized this happening.

I imagine this experience is pretty universal for teenage girls. It’s depressing.

IMO, it doesn't help that some of these girls wear such skimpy clothing. I know I know.. why punish girls for what they wear. That's not point. My point is that unfortunately, our society (men in particular) do sexualize girls and unfortunately, what the girls wear is more likely to draw that type of attention. It sucks, but that is the reality. We can teach our boys to not do that till we turn blue in the face, but we cannot teach other parents to teach their boys this. Social media makes it worse. Some girls do it to themselves by putting up sexualized images of themselves, and then you see people post negative things about them.

Stay off social media.

I remember some perv telling me he liked how my breasts bounced around when I was shaking my parcel at the post office to make sure I had put in enough bubble wrap. I was so puzzled as I normally don't wear form fitting clothes (enough to hide a pregnancy until the 4th month) and I was not large chested. That's when I realized, what you are wearing will not protect you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recall a distinct sadness and disorientation when I became sexualized in the eyes of society. My appearance became my identity, and it was truly dehumanizing. I felt a real loss. I was probably 13/14 when I recognized this happening.

I imagine this experience is pretty universal for teenage girls. It’s depressing.

IMO, it doesn't help that some of these girls wear such skimpy clothing. I know I know.. why punish girls for what they wear. That's not point. My point is that unfortunately, our society (men in particular) do sexualize girls and unfortunately, what the girls wear is more likely to draw that type of attention. It sucks, but that is the reality. We can teach our boys to not do that till we turn blue in the face, but we cannot teach other parents to teach their boys this. Social media makes it worse. Some girls do it to themselves by putting up sexualized images of themselves, and then you see people post negative things about them.

Stay off social media.

I remember some perv telling me he liked how my breasts bounced around when I was shaking my parcel at the post office to make sure I had put in enough bubble wrap. I was so puzzled as I normally don't wear form fitting clothes (enough to hide a pregnancy until the 4th month) and I was not large chested. That's when I realized, what you are wearing will not protect you.

I know.. that's why I stated " what the girls wear is more likely to draw that type of attention."... but some creeps will make these comments regardless of what you are wearing.

But, let's be honest.. you are more likely to get this kind of negative attention if you wear skimpy clothing. Imagine if you were wearing something skimpy around that perv.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even in the 80s, at least three of my high school friends were suicidal and two attempted suicide. One, who was gay and extremely religious parents, later succeeded. Almost no one talked about it.

Seems like the more people talk about it..

The more it actually happens.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious what the criteria are for "seriously considered suicide." My teen son was extremely upset when our pet died in a tragic accident several months ago, and a friend's mom contacted me to tell me that my son told her son that he was feeling suicidal over it. I don't want to deny that my son was profoundly upset about the death, but I honestly don't think he was seriously considering suicide. After the friend's mom told me this, we sent my son to a therapist, who concurred after meeting with him several times.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

I teach at a community college and recently asked my students to reflect upon their social media use. Several said they spend on average, 9 hours per day on Tik tok and other platforms. Some of them said they have stayed up all night on their phones. I see them at 11am and they all look exhausted. I can't blame social media for every problem but it isn't helping.