Have mental health pressures on younger people mounted as the pandemic has continued?
A June survey recently released by the Centers for Disease Control found that 74.9% of respondents aged 18-24 reported at least one "adverse" mental or behavioral health symptom, including anxiety, depression, post-trauma stress symptoms or substance use. Thoughts of suicide were reported by 25%, compared with 10.7% across the whole group.
Other groups reporting above-average strain included adults 25-44 (51.9%), Hispanics (52.1%) and essential workers (54%).
Comprehensive data about such issues lags by months or years, but survey results underscore concerns expressed by mental-health professionals, educators and other leaders. A youth crisis center in Pennsylvania has reported twice as many instances of thoughts of suicide or self-harm since the pandemic began.
