How bad is it? The evidence
- A pair of large meta-analyses published in 2023 found that suicide attempts increased about 22% across hospital emergency departments in 18 countries during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, while symptoms of depression rose sharply, especially among girls and young people from more affluent homes.
- In the US, a 2023 Youth Risk Behaviour Survey found that nearly 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness; over 20% had seriously considered attempting suicide; around 9.5% had attempted suicide.
- Closer to home, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne reports that around one in every five teens is estimated to be affected by mental health concerns.
- A recent study showed that as preteens’ use of social media increased (from about 7 minutes/day to over an hour), so did depressive symptoms. Importantly, researchers found that depression did not predict more social media use later, but more social media use did predict higher depressive symptoms.
- A major Australian study led by the University of Sydney shows that almost 41% of suicide attempts, 35% of self-harm cases, and 21% of depression cases in Australia are directly caused by childhood maltreatment (abuse, neglect etc.), independent of genetics or later social environment. That is, early trauma isn’t just a risk factor, it’s a major driver.
These figures aren’t just statistics, they tell us something is failing. That lives, families and futures are stretched too thin.
Why is this happening? What might be causing the increase
There’s no single culprit. But the research points to several overlapping factors that are contributing to the slide in teen mental health.
Social media, screen time and comparison culture
There’s no getting around it: teens today spend more time online than any previous generation and their lives revolve around social media. While social media offers connection and self-expression, it also magnifies comparison, exposes people to bullying, misinformation, unrealistic ideals, and triggers for anxiety and self-doubt. The UCSF study, for example, links rising depressive symptoms with increased social media usage in tweens.
Social media is also polarising and isolating. The algorithms are designed to keep them scrolling by serving up the most dramatic, divisive or envy-inducing posts, which means our teens are more likely to see polarising opinions, endless highlight reels of “perfect” lives, or content that sparks outrage. Research shows that many teens get most of their news from social media without realising that algorithms shape what they see, leaving them vulnerable to misinformation and skewed worldviews
The government has stepped in with new laws banning under-16s from signing up to social media, but the reality is messy. How do you prove a child’s age without prying into private data? How do you stop kids from simply using a parent’s account? It’s a well-intentioned move, but making it work in the real world is going to be a very big challenge.
Sleep disruption
Another issue with screens: they can lead to chronic sleep disruption. Screens before bed, late night chats, constant alerts, blue light – all these interfere with restful sleep, which is foundational for emotional regulation. Tired teens are teens that find it harder to cope with everything life throws at them.
It’s not just screens affecting their sleep, either. Researchers found that 85% of teens don’t get enough exercise, 80% don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables, 50% regularly consume fast food and 39% have ‘too many’ soft drinks. Overall, more than 92% of teens reported two or more unhealthy behaviours. All of these habits have been shown to directly impact adolescent sleep quality.
School pressure, academic stress and future uncertainty
The pressure on teens to succeed – academically, socially – is intense and often relentless. Test scores, uni entry and job prospects feel more competitive than ever. Add to that uncertainty about climate change, economic instability and the relentless global unrest which feeds straight into our children’s phoens. Many young people report feeling overwhelmed, powerless or anxious about what the future holds.
Stigma, lack of mental health literacy, inadequate early intervention
Even as conversations about “mental health” are more common, many teens and families still don’t understand what depression, anxiety or suicide risk really look like. Early signs of teen mental health issues are overlooked and many don’t seek help until things are severe. Mental health services are often under-resourced, hard to access or unaffordable for most. Wait times can be long and geographical and socioeconomic barriers are very real.
Pandemic effects and isolation
COVID-19 disrupted normal routines: school closures, lockdowns, isolation from peers, unpredictability. Meta-analyses show that youth suicide attempts and depression spiked after the start of the pandemic.
Even after life “returned to normal,” many teens have lingering fears, anxieties and a sense of being behind socially or academically. These effects appear to be anything but temporary and teen mental health has been sliding ever since.
Early trauma, maltreatment and adversity
As mentioned, childhood abuse, neglect or maltreatment show up strongly in mental health outcomes. A large Australian study estimated that a huge proportion of cases of self-harm, depression and suicide attempts are driven by those early harms.
Other adverse childhood experiences — family instability, domestic violence, poverty — also play a role. These early adversities contribute to what’s being called latent vulnerability: the idea that early emotional and relational damage shapes how the brain handles later stress, making mental health problems more likely.
What is society getting wrong?
If I look at these causes, there are patterns. These are things society does (or fails to do) that compound the problem of teen mental health issues.
Putting profit before young people’s wellbeing
The tech and social media industries profit from engagement; algorithms are designed to keep people scrolling. But when that includes exposure to harmful content, comparison and anxiety-amplifying effect, there’s little accountability or regulation.
Under-investing in early support
Waiting until a crisis before stepping in is too late. We tend to focus funding on reactive treatments rather than preventive mental health care like early identification, school-based wellbeing, parenting support, trauma-informed care. You only need to look at the government’s slow reaction to vaping to see this in action. Parents were sending out frantic warnings years before the government issued a single policy around vapes and youth.
Normalising overwork and constant achievement
Our kids’ lives are overloaded with academic goals, extracurricular activities, societal expectations and obligations. Kids who don’t “look like they struggle” are assumed to be managing and the few resources available are given to those at the extreme ends of the bell-curve. The vast majority of kids in the middle are basically just ‘getting on with it’ and ‘it’ isn’t good for them.
Minimising childhood trauma
Many still believe that “kids will be fine” or that trauma “just disappears.” But science shows early damage has long-term effects and there is not enough attention paid to the lasting effects of childhood trauma, including bullying.
Shame, silence and stigma
Teens may feel isolated by what they are experiencing. They’re ashamed of their depression, embarrassed about their anxiety, scared to fail and too embarrassed to ask for help. We don’t always teach them (or model) that mental health is part of health and we don’t address early signs of mental health issues in a way that prevents them from becoming a problem.
In many ways, it’s not for lack of knowledge. We know more and talk more about mental health now than ever before. However, the more we seem to know about mental health, the more we seem to be eroding it. We have more awareness, more research, more conversations and yet rates of anxiety and depression keep rising. Awareness isn’t enough without action and system change.
What can we do
While the picture is heavy, there is a lot we can do to support teens now to help them build healthier futures.
As parents/carers
1. Listen and validate
Being present, asking “How are you, really?” them matters. Listening without judgement and validating their feelings (even when uncomfortable) matters even more. Let them know you are there no matter what, not just when things are good. Prove it by showing up again and again with an open heart and mind
2. Watch for changes, not just labels
Shifts in mood, sleep, appetite, performance, social withdrawal, irritability may be early warning signs of mental struggle. Schools, GP visits or mental health professionals can help when concerns are spotted early. (See: myGov’s Looking after teenagers’ mental health for tips here.)
3. Limit social media/screen time together
Establish realistic boundaries around devices especially before bed to encourage the best possible sleep (one of the foundations for good mental health).
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- You’ll find lots of tips here to support your teen’s sleep.
- To help find balance with screens, read this.
- And advice for setting boundaries here.
4. Create safe spaces for conversation
Let mental health be a regular topic: stress at school, friendship or worries about the future are all conversations we should try to have regularly with our kids. A ‘safe space’ in this instance means open listening, asking before advising and letting them know that there are no wrong or right things to say.
5. Seek professional help early
Start with your GP – I honestly believe every teenager would benefit from a conversation wth a GP that may lead to a counsellor or psychologist to support their passage through adolescence. If the GP feels too confronting, Headspace offers approachable, accessible services for people aged 12-25 and their families. They see every kind of teen mental health issue and can help or advise you on next steps.
6. Nurture resilience and connection
Foster your child’s friendships and encourage relationships with other supportive adults, like aunts and uncles, neighbours, grandparents or teachers. Ensure they have plenty of hobbies to give them space to do what they love. Daily exercise and healthy nutrition are important, if they’re reluctant to exercise (as many teens are), a daily non-negotiable walk can work wonders.
In schools and communities
These are the changes I would like to see implemented in classrooms and across communities to better support teen mental health:
1. Integrated mental health education in the curriculum
Not just “here’s what depression is” but practical tools: emotional regulation, self-care and coping with failure. De-stigmatise mental health issues by bringing them into the classroom to discuss as a group. If we start this in kindergarten, it won’t feel weird in high school.
2. Increase counsellors and trained mental health staff in schools
I have worked in a high school and the counsellors were run off their feet. Many kids didn’t get the attention they needed because there simply wasn’t enough to go around. We need to do better: every kid that seeks support at school should be able to receive it. We also need to do more to promote safe, inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ youth, those who feel different or any kid dealing with trauma. School is often the first line of defence for these kids and we need to be there for them, every time.
3. Promote protective factors
It shouldn’t be ‘shameful’ to be a kind, considerate, open-hearted person. Feeling like you belong, having a solid connection with peers, knowing you have supportive adults in your corner and experiencing many opportunities to express your true self should be available to every kid. Thse are the kind of protective factors that research shows can reduce risk of suicide-related behaviours.
Policy and societal change
Parents and school communities can only do so much. To really impact teens’ mental health, we need the government to step up with policy changes that encourage societal change. Here are some of the things that are either in the works or coming soon that can’t come soon enough:
1. Strict regulation of social media
We should require transparency in design, content moderation and age-appropriate restrictions. This has begun: from 10 December this year (2025), the Australian government will be introducing world-first age restrictions across social media. Children under 16 will no longer be allowed to hold social media accounts under the new ban. Platforms will be required to take “reasonable steps” to block underage users and prevent workarounds and companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to $50 million. Importantly, there will be no fines or penalties for children or their families if young people still manage to access the sites. You can find out more about how it will work here.
Make childhood maltreatment prevention a public health priority. That includes things like affordable childcare, support for parents, income stability, paid parental leave — things shown to reduce rates of abuse and neglect. (theguardian.com)
Fund mental health services properly — especially early-intervention, youth services, remote & rural areas. Reduce barriers: cost, stigma, access.
When to get help & where to find support
If you’re worried a teen is in trouble, it’s better to act early. Reach out when you notice:
- Persistent sadness, hopelessness
- Changes in behaviour, appetite, sleep
- Avoiding friends, refusing school, withdrawal from things they used to enjoy
- Talk of self-harm or suicide
Where can people get help for teen mental health issues right now?
- Lifeline (Australia): 13 11 14 — 24-hour crisis support. (raisingchildren.net.au)
- Kids Helpline (Australia): 1800 55 1800 — free counselling for ages 5-25. (kidshelpline.com.au)
- Headspace (Australia): services for young people 12-25, online & in person. (headspace.org.au)
- Beyond Blue: info and resources on mental health and wellbeing. (raisingchildren.net.au)
- Black Dog Institute’s Parents Resource Hub: helping parents understand adolescent mental health. (blackdoginstitute.org.au)
The more we know, the more we seem to be eroding it — reflections
It feels paradoxical: child mental health research has never been more advanced, understanding of trauma deeper, awareness higher — yet many kids are worse off. What gives?
I think the answer lies in imbalance: we have grown in awareness, but not always in protective structures. We celebrate mental health days but underfund mental health services; we teach kids about anxiety but schedule full loads and constant achievement pressure; we warn about cyberbullying but still allow addictive tech and unmoderated platforms to dominate their downtime.
What we are getting wrong is thinking that awareness alone is change. Without shifts in policy, design of technology, school systems, parental support, early trauma prevention — awareness remains surface-level.
We can do better
I believe we can do better. For every statistic that alarms, there are stories of teens who recover, thrive, shine once supported. With compassionate parenting, strong public policy, community action, and safe technology, the tide can turn.
If you are a parent or caring adult, don’t wait until crisis. Listen. Validate. Get informed. Be present. If you are a policymaker or community leader: fund early intervention, regulate digital harms, ensure children’s safety from trauma. And for young people: your feelings are real, you are not alone, help is possible.
Because they deserve more than just survival. They deserve to flourish.
If you need help now, please reach out:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 (Australia)
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (Australia)
- Headspace: headspace.org.au
Feature image by Afta Putta Gunawan; girl scrolling in bed Photo by MART PRODUCTION; 2 boys by Pixabay; mother and daughter by Zen Chung
