CDC reports rising mental health struggles among teens, especially girls

LINCOLN, Neb (KLKN) – Almost 60% of teen girls say they have feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency also found that 30% had seriously considered suicide, which was double the rate of boys.

About 20% of girls also said they experienced rape or other sexual violence during the past year, another increase from previous years.

The CDC said the number of kids affected by mental health struggles has increased over the past decade, rising most among teen girls.

Since the start of the pandemic, other studies have found similar trends in the decline of kids’ mental health, and some say they have been worsened by social and political turmoil.

The ACLU of Nebraska said it’s looking to the current Nebraska Legislature for help lowering those numbers.

“Unfortunately, in Nebraska we’re not meeting the necessary ratio for student counselors to students, for school psychologists to students,” said Rose Godinez, senior legal and policy counsel.

The ACLU testified last week on a bill that would require mental health training for teachers and school administrators.

Godinez also said that many school districts in Nebraska are investing too much money into law enforcement in schools and not enough into school counselors and psychologists.

“Having a law enforcement presence in schools does not make school districts any safer,” she said. “In fact, it creates more of a safety issue for students with disabilities and students of color and long-term consequences as far as their mental health and future opportunities.”

Nearly half of LGBTQ students said they seriously considered suicide.

Abbi Swatsworth, executive director of OutNebraska, said it’s heartbreaking to know that so many students are struggling, and that the answer is to give them more support.

“We’ve seen here in Nebraska, just in this legislative session, a number of bills introduced that would negatively affect LGBTQ, especially transgender, students,” she said. “When youth are supported, when they have a supportive adult in their lives, their risk of suicide drops tremendously.”

Lincoln Public Schools says it has a number of ways to help students handle stress and support their mental health.

Andrea Phillips, the LPS coordinator for school social workers, says one of those is through Hope Squads, which are peer-led groups in which students can talk with one another.

SEE ALSO: ‘Everybody has the power to save a life’: LPS promotes suicide prevention resources

“That is one way we’re addressing that and trying to get students help even if they’re not necessarily comfortable coming to an adult,” she said. “And what that means is that the peer isn’t the person responsible for providing that support, but they’re just a listening ear and a person to get them to a caring adult.”

The district also has 43 social workers who meet with students individually to address mental health concerns and 115 counselors who work with students in the classroom.

Phillips said LPS is working with community agencies to increase the number of providers and ensure that every school has a full-time counselor.