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As students return to classrooms this fall, concerns over teen mental health remain front and center for parents and educators alike. A growing body of research shows that adolescents today, particularly teenage girls, are reporting unprecedented levels of sadness, hopelessness, and even suicidal thoughts.
According to the 2023 Youth Risk Behaviour Survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. While slightly down from a peak of 42% during the Covid-19 pandemic, the figure is still nearly 10 percentage points higher than a decade ago, a sign that the crisis is far from over.
Journalist Matt Richtel, a Pulitzer Prize-winning science reporter for The New York Times, explores this troubling trend in his new book, “How We Grow Up: Understanding Adolescence.” Drawing on four years of research into adolescent psychology and neuroscience, Richtel offers both a sobering assessment of why teens are struggling with their mental health and practical advice for parents navigating these turbulent years.
Why Teens Are So Overwhelmed
“Adolescent mental health is best understood by understanding what adolescents are going through,” Richtel explained in an interview. “They have a highly sensitized brain at a time when the world is moving very quickly, and they are receiving a ton of information. Sometimes what they experience is a kind of information overload that looks like rumination, anxiety, and other forms of distress.”
While many blame social media, Richtel cautions against oversimplification. “There is a misconception that the phone is the singular problem,” he said. “In fact, adolescence itself is a period of conflict, the integration of the known and the unknown in a rapidly changing world. Simply taking phones away won’t fix that.”
The challenge is compounded by the falling age of puberty, which sensitizes the adolescent brain earlier in life, creating what Richtel describes as a “neurological mismatch” between what teens absorb and what they can process.
Why Parents Still Matter
Despite the disconnect that often emerges in adolescence, Richtel insists parents remain the strongest influence in their children’s lives. Teens may resist guidance, but that resistance is part of the evolutionary process of learning independence.
“Sometimes when your kids look at you with that blank face, you’re not looking at a jerk, you’re looking at evolutionary biology,” Richtel noted. “Parents shouldn’t take it personally. Setting boundaries and expressing feelings is important, but so is remembering this is part of their growth.”
Coping With Emotional Overload
So how can parents help teens when the stress becomes overwhelming? Richtel suggests focusing on coping skills rather than rational arguments in the heat of the moment.
“If your kid says, ‘Everyone in ninth grade hates me,’ it’s not about debating the facts,” he said. “Their brain is overloaded. Sometimes what they need is exercise, a cold shower, or simply space to let emotions settle before reasoning can take hold.”
Therapeutic tools such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) can also equip teens with long-term strategies to reframe negative thinking and regulate emotions.
A Generation in Transition
Richtel calls today’s teens the “Generation Rumination,” noting that while previous generations expressed exploration outwardly, through physical risk-taking, today’s adolescents often turn inward, grappling with identity, self-worth, and complex cultural questions.
“It’s uncomfortable for parents,” Richtel acknowledged, “but it’s part of the human species’ survival mechanism. Adolescents are exploring for themselves and for others. That’s why their struggles are both deeply personal and profoundly social.”
Looking Ahead
The teen mental health crisis is not a passing trend but a reflection of deep developmental, cultural, and societal shifts. While statistics paint a troubling picture, experts like Richtel emphasize that with empathy, coping strategies, and supportive parenting, teens can emerge stronger from these challenges.
“Parents really are the biggest influencers in their kids’ lives,” Richtel said. “If we listen, guide, and give them the tools to manage their emotions, we can help them navigate this overwhelming period, and grow into resilient adults.”
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