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The mental health crisis: New data on teen girls
Anne S. Walters ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5The text reports data released by the CDC on the mental health and safety of teenage girls in 2021. Nearly three in five teen girls reported persistent sadness and hopelessness, about double the rate for boys. One in five girls experienced sexual violence in the past year, and one in ten reported being forced to have sex. The text says the numbers are even higher among LGBTQ+ and minority girls. It is a short commentary summarising figures, not a full study.
Key points
- Nearly three in five teen girls experienced sadness and hopelessness in 2021, double the number of boys.
- This is an almost 60% increase and the highest level in the past 10 years.
- Nearly one in three girls considered death by suicide, an almost 60% increase over 10 years.
- One in five girls was a victim of sexual violence in the past year, up 20% since 2017.
- One in ten girls has been forced to have sex, up 27% since 2019; rates are higher among LGBTQ+ and minority girls.
Limitations
The text is a brief summary of CDC figures with no methods, sample details or full source citation, and it does not explain the causes. Despite the peer-reviewed type hint, it reads as a short commentary, and it gives no country other than implying the United States through the CDC.
Abstract
In February of this year, the CDC released sobering data: nearly three in five teen girls experienced sadness and hopelessness in 2021. This is double the number of boys and represents an almost 60% increase as well as the highest level over the past 10 years. Further, nearly one in three considered death by suicide, an increase of almost 60% over the past 10 years. One in five girls was the victim of sexual violence in the past year, an increase of 20% since 2017. Moreover, finally, one in 10 have been forced to have sex, an increase of 27% since 2019. These numbers are noted to be even higher in LBGTQ+ and minority populations of girls.