It’s not hard to see the real challenges teens face with mental health today. Looking at youth mental health statistics over the last few decades can be a bleak sight. But in light of World Mental Health Day, we wanted to highlight some of the positive trends in mental health and remind ourselves to celebrate the wins! The fact that there even is a World Mental Health Day is a great way to acknowledge the importance of this issue and keep working towards the shared goal of supporting those who struggle with it. So let’s jump in!
Positive Trends to Celebrate World Mental Health Day 2024
Fewer teens have persistent feelings of sadness
The CDC recently released a study with an encouraging finding — the percentage of teens who feel persistent sadness or hopelessness has decreased. From 2021 to 2023, the number went down from 42% to 40%. This may seem like a small change, but it is most certainly a trend in the right direction. It’s not exactly clear what caused this decrease, but it tells us something important — it is possible to see improvements in the mental well-being of teens.
73% of Gen Z describe themselves as happy
One study surveyed 2,000 Gen Zers and reported that well over half of them described themselves as very happy to somewhat happy. The study also looked at some things that correlated with higher levels of happiness. These included things like feeling a sense of purpose, getting enough sleep and relaxation, and feeling supported by those around them.
Not only is it encouraging to see that many teens report themselves to be happy, but it is also valuable to know what sort of things correlate with increased happiness. This way, we know what areas to focus on and encourage teens to ensure happier, healthier lives.
More people are aware and supportive of teen mental health efforts
One of the biggest wins in the fight for better mental health is the amount of awareness and positive discussion that has come about in recent years. In the past, people with anxiety and depression were seen as lazy, weak, or even dramatic. Now, it is much more widely accepted that these are real, treatable diagnoses resulting from chemical imbalances in the brain. When more people have an accurate understanding of these issues, we can more effectively address them as a community.
More teens are receiving the help they need for their mental health
Now that there is more support and positive conversation around mental health, there is a very tangible positive outcome — increased treatment. There’s less stigma around things like therapy and medications, which means kids who are struggling can actually get the help that they need sooner rather than later.
Fewer teens are using illegal substances
An interesting finding has been that there’s been a decrease in substance use among teens. Certainly, drug use is still a significant issue among young people — it doesn’t take long to find stories of fentanyl overdoses and serious addictions starting at a young age. But the CDC found that there’s been a notable decline over the last ten years, even for the most commonly used drugs like marijuana, alcohol, and vaped nicotine. Oftentimes, substance use among teens overlaps with mental health struggles, so this finding is promising when looking at teen’s overall mental well-being.
How Bark Can Support Your Teen's Mental Health
With access to technology, it’s easier for kids to text or post about their struggles with mental health, rather than talk to their parents about it. But this is also when they need their parent’s support the most. That’s why Bark’s monitoring technology is trained to scan text messages, emails, and 30+ social media apps looking for indications that your child may be struggling mentally. If this is detected, you’ll be sent an alert right away.
Additionally, screen time can also impact your child’s mental well-being. So Bark also offers comprehensive screen time controls so that you can encourage a healthy relationship between your child and technology. Sign up for a free, 7-day trial to try Bark and see for yourself how Bark can give you peace of mind about your child’s digital world.
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