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Teens & Adolescents Articles Teen Issues Find a Teen Therapist Does My Teen Need Therapy Online Therapy for Teens

Teen Mental Health Statistics & Resources

Headshot of Melissa Boudin, PsyD

Author: Melissa Boudin, PsyD

Headshot of Melissa Boudin, PsyD

Melissa Boudin PsyD

Dr. Melissa, clinical psychologist with 15+ years, specializes in depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief, focused on improving mental health access and resources.

See My Bio Editorial Policy
Headshot of Dena Westphalen, Pharm. D.

Medical Reviewer: Dena Westphalen, Pharm.D Licensed medical reviewer

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Dena Westphalen PharmD

Dr. Dena Westphalen is a pharmacist with expertise in clinical research and drug information. She has interests in neurology, oncology, and global health.

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Published: November 6, 2023
  • General FactsGeneral Facts
  • DepressionDepression
  • AnxietyAnxiety
  • Substance UseSubstance Use
  • Eating DisordersEating Disorders
  • Suicide RatesSuicide Rates
  • InfographicsInfographics
  • Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

In the span of a few years, teenagers’ bodies are changing, their hormones are adjusting, and they may be facing a lot of pressure in school and in their social lives. All of these changes can lead to mental health issues. Here’s what you need to know about teens’ mental health.

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Teen Mental Health Facts – Overview

A teenager’s exposure to risk factors such as stigma, living conditions, and other trauma can adversely affect their mental health and heighten the risk for suicide. Overall:

  • About 14% of teens experience mental health conditions.2
  • Half of all mental health issues start at age 14 but often go untreated or undiagnosed.1
  • According to the WHO, teenagers living in fragile social situations, dealing with chronic illness, or intellectual disability are more likely to experience mental health conditions.2
  • These teenagers are more likely to suffer from social exclusion, risky behaviors, and stigma that prevents them from getting care.
  • It takes an average of 8-10 years between the onset of symptoms and receiving treatment.3
  • One survey found that rates of mental illness have increased between 2009 and 2019:4
    • Depression (from 26% to 37%)
    • Serious contemplation of suicide (from 14% to 19%)
    • Suicide planning (from 11% to 16%)
    • Suicide attempts (from 6% to 9%)

Depression in Teens

General feelings of sadness or melancholy are common, especially as teens go through confusing hormonal changes and deal with societal expectations. Serious depression, however, is a sign of something deeper.

Here are several important statistics about depression in teenagers:

  • Depression is among the leading causes of illness and disability in teens.2
  • 20 to 30% of teens have a major depressive episode before becoming adults.5
  • Approximately 2.7 million children and adolescents have been diagnosed with depression.6
  • 3 in 4 children aged 3 to 17 with depression also suffer from anxiety.6
  • According to the CDC, the rate of depression in youth is increasing.6

Anxiety in Teens

As teenagers face new challenges in school and online or are dealing with pressure from family and friends, it’s easy to understand why they may feel overwhelmed or anxious. Acute anxiety, however, can negatively impact a teenager’s wellbeing and mental health.

Here are statistics on anxiety in adolescents:

  • Approximately 5.8 million children and adolescents have been diagnosed with anxiety.6
  • 1 in 3 teenagers will suffer from an anxiety disorder.7
  • Anxiety disorders went up 20% between 2007 and 2012.7
  • In a 2016 study done by Higher Education Research, 41% of students said they felt overwhelmed by school expectations, a rate that has increased since 2000.7

Substance Use in Teens

Despite being underaged, studies show that those under 21, including teenagers, make up one-tenth of all alcohol consumption in the United States.8 The younger they are when teen drug abuse starts, the more likely they are to develop substance abuse disorders later in life.9

Here are some statistics on substance use in teenagers:

  • In 2016, the prevalence of teens engaged in heavy episodic drinking was 13.6%.2
  • The most commonly used substances are alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco.10
  • Two-thirds of teenagers have tried alcohol by 12th grade.11
  • In 2022, 1 in 6 high school students reported using cigarettes.12

Eating Disorders in Teens

In light of social media comparisons and peer pressure to maintain a certain body type, many teens turn to eating disorders in an attempt to control their body size and looks.

Here are some important statistics regarding eating disorders in adolescents:

  • Cases of eating disorders in female adolescents are twice as high as those of males (3.8% to 1.5%).13
  • According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), from 2001 to 2004, the largest group of adolescents with eating disorders were aged 17 to 18.13
    • 2.4% of adolescents aged 13 to 14 were diagnosed with an eating disorder
    • 2.8% of adolescents aged 15 to 16 were diagnosed

Suicide Rates in Teens

Risk factors for teens considering suicide are complex and complicated, often a result of social stigma, conditions at home, and a variety of other factors.

Here’s what you need to know about suicide rates in adolescents:

  • Suicide is the 4th highest cause of death in adolescents.2
  • Roughly 67,000 teenagers died in 2015 due to self-harm.14
  • 90% of teen suicides are from teenagers living in low or middle-income countries.15
  • In 2006, males aged 16 to 18 made up the highest percentage of suicide rates.5

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Teen Mental Health Statistics & Resources Infographics

Teen Mental Health Facts  Depression in Teens  Anxiety in Teens

Sources Update History

ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.

  • Mental Health Disorders in Adolescents. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Adolescent Health Care in Collaboration with committee liaison Richard R. Brookman, MD. (2020) Retrieved from: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2017/07/mental-health-disorders-in-adolescents.

  • Adolescent mental health. (2020, September 28). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health

  • Children MH Facts. (n.d.). [PDF]. Children Mental Health Facts – NAMI. https://www.nami.org/nami/media/nami-media/infographics/children-mh-facts-nami.pdf

  • Rodriguez, T., MA. (2021, April 30). Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescent Mental Health. Psychiatry Advisor. https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/child-adolescent-psychiatry/adolescent-mental-health-issues-are-further-exacerbated-by-the-covid-19-pandemic/

  • Schwarz, S. W. (2009, June). Adolescent Mental Health in the United States: Facts for Policymakers. National Center for Children in Poverty. https://www.nccp.org/publication/adolescent-mental-health-in-the-united-states-facts-for-policymakers/

  • Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health | CDC. (2020, June 15). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html

  • McCarthy, C. (n.d.). Anxiety in Teens is Rising: What’s Going On? HealthyChildren.Org. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Anxiety-Disorders.aspx

  • Underage Drinking Within the US. (2022). American Addiction Centers. Retrieved from: https://alcohol.org/teens/underage-drinking-stats/

  • Youth High-Risk Drug Use. CDC. (2022). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/hrsu.htm

  • Substance Use in Adolescence. (2020). Office of Population Affairs (OASH). Retrieved from: https://opa.hhs.gov/adolescent-health/substance-use-adolescence.

  • Statistics of Drug Use in High School. (2022). American Addiction Centers. Retrieved from: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/statistics-of-drug-use-in-high-school

  • Youth and Tobacco Use. (2022). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm.

  • Eating Disorders. (n.d.). National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/eating-disorders

  • More than 1.2 million adolescents die every year, nearly all preventable. (2017). World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news/item/16-05-2017-more-than-1-2-million-adolescents-die-every-year-nearly-all-preventable

  • Suicidal ideation and behavior in youth in low- and middle-income countries: A brief review of risk factors and implications for prevention. National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2022). Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9763724/

Show more Click here to open the article sources container.

We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.

November 6, 2023
Author: No Change
Reviewer: No Change
Primary Changes: Updated for readability and clarity. Fact-checked all statistics and updated relevant sources.
August 6, 2021
Author: Melissa Boudin, PsyD
Reviewer: Dena Westphalen, PharmD
Show more Click here to open the article update history container.

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Additional Resources

To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, ChoosingTherapy.com has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. ChoosingTherapy.com is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.

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For Further Reading

  • Teen and Young Adult Mental Health – National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • Mental Health Resources For Adolescents and Young Adults
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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Best Options for Online Therapy for Teens

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Best Online Therapy Services

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