A year into the pandemic, young people’s mental health has worsened.

A year into the pandemic, young people’s mental health has worsened. According to an Ipsos survey, nearly half of parents who have teens are reporting that their kids are facing new or worsening mental health issues since COVID began. Parents of teen girls reported “higher levels of depression and anxiety” than the parents of teen boys, with 31% of 13-18-year-old girls experiencing depression compared to 18% of boys, and 36% of 13-18-year-old girls facing anxiety versus 19% of boys. While some experts have partially blamed social media for the rise in teen anxiety and depression, a Common Sense study reports that it’s actually played an important part in coping with mental health. A quarter of depressed young adults now cite social media as “very important” for getting support or advice, compared to 11% in 2018. YPulse’s State of Mind trend research found that 62% of 13-19-year-olds say their mental health has been negatively impacted by COVID, while 52% go on social media as a way to take care of their mental health. (PRNewswire, CNN)