Today, teens and adolescents face mental health challenges like no previous generation, extending to online life and school.
- Worldwide, one out of every seven adolescents experiences a mental health condition
- In 2023, 30 percent 30 of high school students in the United States reported that they had poor mental health most of the time
- 42 percent of parents report that their teen has struggled with poor mental health since the pandemic
- 33 percent of college students in the US have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression
- 43 percent of college students have considered leaving school in the last 6 months because of poor mental health
- 61 percent of young adults in the United States say that they experience feelings of loneliness severe enough to interfere with everyday activities
- Depression symptoms are twice as frequent in teen girls as they are in teen boys
- 48 percent of teenagers around the US believe that social media has a profoundly harmful effect on themselves and their peers
- 66 percent of all LGBTQ+ young people in the United States report severe anxiety as of 2024
- Half of LGBTQ+ youth who sought help in 2024 for poor mental health were unable to get the care they needed
Owing to these statistics and others, NY Center for Living has positioned itself as a family-friendly outpatient facility that supports those in need with teen and young adult-based programs, each offering LGBTQ+ affirming care for mental health and substance use disorders.
Causes of Poor Teen Mental Health Statistics 2026
There are many causes of mental health struggles among teens, not least of which is that pervasive hopelessness and sadness have been socially accepted as a new norm since COVID. Beyond that, social media and academic pressures continue to perpetuate struggles among teens and young adults.
Academic Pressures
One of the biggest causes of mental health issues among teens today is academic pressure. A recent study found that teens worry most about:
- School
- Grades
- College applications
These three represent 83 percent of all teen worries.
Social Media
Another cause of poor mental health is social media. The average teen now spends 4.5 hours every day on social media, which means that the average teen has double the risk of anxiety compared to peers who do not spend as much time on social media.
Studies found that 58 percent of teens reported they often lose sleep because of social media, with long-term overstimulation from social media mimicking symptoms of anxiety or ADHD.
Part of this comes from comparisons. Seventy-seven percent of teens report that they have high anxiety or depression because they are looking at “perfect” images online.
College Students
According to the largest study of student mental health, college students, for the third year running, have reported lower rates of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and suicidal ideations.
These figures show that depression symptoms have dropped from 23% in 2022 to 18% in 2025. As more institutions and families are coming together to support their teens and adolescents with the right type of outpatient program, prioritizing good mental health and social connection, teens and adolescents across New York are starting to see improvements.
However, there are still high levels of depression and anxiety reported across college-age students and, in particular, high levels of loneliness, with over half of all students reporting feelings of loneliness.
Getting Help as a Parent
Reports indicate that 3 out of every five teens struggling with major depression are not getting any type of care.
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) reports that there are fewer than 17 specialists for every 100,000 children in need, meaning that access to care can be very limited in your area.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed as a parent, but these statistics don’t indicate a guarantee for your child. If you have noticed signs of things like not paying attention, procrastination, or irritability, it might be a sign of things like ADHD, depression, addiction, or academic burnout.
What matters most as a parent is understanding what these signs indicate, when it’s time to reach out for professional help, and how you can support your teen at home in 2026. At NY Center For Living, we offer Family Programs that make it possible for parents and teens alike to participate in an outpatient program with educational tools, ongoing support, and participation in community programs that continue to foster a sense of social connection and move teens away from loneliness.
Conclusion
Remember that these statistics can be frightening when read all at once, but they don’t mean your child is doomed to struggle. If you are noticing problems with your teen, call NY Center For Living.
We can help you understand when our outpatient programs for teens and our family programs might be most helpful.
Reach out today at 646-692-0034 to find programs for teens.
FAQ
Is Social Media Bad for Teens?
While several Teen Mental Health Statistics 2026 paint a negative association between social media and mental health, it is important to note that it can be harmful, but it can also provide some good. The delineator between the level of harm that social media can cause for teens is often how it is used and how frequently it is used.
If you believe that you have a teen struggling with poor mental health as a result of social media, academic pressure, or other causes, reach out to our admissions team to learn how our programs can help.
Is Therapy Effective?
Only 53 percent of Americans believe that therapy actually works. However, science has proved that it does. There are several things that can make therapy more effective, like having a support network and involving family.
At our facility, we offer Family Programs especially for our teen outpatient treatment plans, as well as active aftercare and group therapy options, all of which make the therapeutic process more effective.
How Long Does Therapy Take to Work?
U.S. therapists have indicated that 78 percent of their clients start to see results after an average of 2-8 sessions. When you reach out to our team for one of our outpatient or intensive outpatient programs, our admissions department will speak to you about what timeline is suggested after your intake appointment.
Why Don’t Most People Get Therapy?
One of the biggest inhibitors to receiving treatment is often cost (52 percent of Americans think that therapy is out of their budget) or problems finding a provider (42 percent of Americans have had problems finding a qualified therapist).
At NY Center for Living, our team makes therapy more affordable by working with insurance providers and exclusively offering outpatient programs, which are statistically more affordable compared to inpatient programs. With flexible outpatient programs, you are not responsible for covering the cost of room and board or other residential amenities. We also make it possible to find a flexible program that fits within your schedule, with our morning and evening programs that can be scheduled around things like work or school.
