The Youth of the 21st Century is in Crisis — And We’re Failing Them

This piece by Umair Haque should concern us. It is particularly focused on suicide rates among girls today. To this, I add research from Twenge (2017) who also raises concerns about screen time among Gen Z youth. I quote:

"Once again, the link between screen time and mental health issues is distressingly clear: teens who spend more than three hours a day on electronic devices are 35 % more likely to have at least one suicide risk factor.  That's much more than the risk related to TV watching, suggesting that it's not just screens but new media, such as smartphones, games, and social media that are behind the link. Nonscreen activities such as exercise instead lower suicide risk factors. So teens who spend a lot of time looking at their phones aren't just at higher risk of depression, they're also at an alarmingly higher risk for suicide. (pp. 83-84)"

As a parent of Gen Z youth reading this, I would be very much attuned to these findings. Research like this, when read and meaningfully internalized, can save lives. 

-Angela Valenzuela

Reference

Twenge, J.M. (2017). iGen: Why today's Super-connected kids are growing p less rebellious, more tolerant, less happy—and Completely unprepared for adulthood. NY: Atria.

The Youth of the 21st Century is in Crisis — And We’re Failing Them

Young People Aren’t Just Hurting — They’re Being Taught to Hurt Each Other, and It’s a Crisis that We Need to Talk About

By Umair Haque | Feb. 15, 2023 | Eudaimonia & Co



You don’t have to look too hard to see it. Our kids are in crisis. And it’s a serious crisis. There’s going to be the kind of guy — you know the type — who dismisses this out of hand, saying something like, “I had it tough, too!” Maybe you did, but the evidence, which is generational speaks for itself. And when you look at it, the findings are dire. What do I mean? Try this on for size.

Nearly 1 in 3 high school girls reported in 2021 that they seriously considered suicide — up nearly 60 percent from a decade ago — according to new findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1 in 3 girls. Up 60 percent in a decade. Those are startling numbers. They should give us all pause. That a third of young women are considering killing themselves is a Big Deal, and no…

It hasn’t “always” been like this. When issues like this are discussed, there’s a reactionary tendency on the internet, an assumption of what social scientists call “mean reversion.” It’s always been like this, and we’re just talking about it openly now. In this case, that’s dead wrong. The statistics, which, like I said, are generational, are damning and shocking. Just 5% of people over the age of 50 say they’ve had a “major depressive episode” — but the number’s triple that amongst young people. And that’s likely a tremendous undercount, as these things tend to be. Here’s another number that’s probably truer: 45% of high school students say they’ve felt sad or hopeless in the last year, and 20% say they’ve had suicidal thoughts.

Still not convinced? OK, let’s keep going, so that there’s a good understanding that this a very real crisis.

Self-harm and suicide both skyrocketed after 2010 in the U. S., and those results cannot be explained by self-report issues.

How much so? Rates of self harm more than tripled, which is what suicide rates did. Think about what it means in a society that young people’s suicide rates are exploding off the charts.

So, no it hasn’t always been like this. This is new, it’s different, and it’s grave.

And there are differences by gender, too. Girls seem to have it worse than boys, and that’s saying something, because, make no mistake, it’s not as if boys are sailing on smoothly by.

So what’s going on here? What’s this crisis about? Well, on one level, it’s pretty easy to understand. Young people are probably feeling overwhelmed. By…all of it. The state of collapse of their societies and the world around them. The return of the old poisons of fascism and hate and violence. Economies stagnating and shrinking. The sense we’re all haunted by — is there even going to be much of a future, when lunatics and billionaires and lunatic billionaires are hoarding the very resources we need to fix democracy, the planet, and life on it…or this it? Again, sure, you can be that guy. “Man up! Things have never been better!!” Only…

That’s not true. You see, things haven’t “never been better.” What else is going in the world these days? Well, progress, for the first time in centuries, has flatlined and gone into reverse. And that begins to explain a lot.

Why are girls affected most? Well, if you understand progress going into reverse, then everything snaps into focus a little bit more. They have the most to lose. Girls are the beneficiaries of decades of progress. It wasn’t so long ago that being a woman and having a professional career was a non-starter, and even today, of course, there are huge, huge gaps in everything from incomes to opportunities for women. Famously, the S&P 500 has more CEOs named Mike and James than… women.

Girls have the most to lose. Well, among the most to lose, if you want to nitpick, though I’m not sure that’s really worth anyone’s time. As progress comes undone…well, you can already see what they’re up against. Let’s take the story of, say, someone like the mega-influencer guy who recently got busted for sex trafficking in Eastern Europe. Figures like that make fortunes from…teaching young men to objectify, hate, and despise women, to literally sexually exploit them, to aim very real violence at them.

When I say “the reversal of progress,” it might sound abstract to you, or you might think of something numinous and vague, to happen in the future…but it’s happening to girls, right here and now. They probably feel as if they’re under attack. From every angle. They turn on social media, just want to share their lives, and the next thing you know, manfluencer-trained boys are calling them every sort of name under the sun, threatening to hurt them, and so on. And the feeling of being under attack isn’t just feeling. It’s real.


Umair Haque

It's disturbing to read that in the U.S., "suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 10-24, and the third leading cause of death among 12-year-olds."  Aside from genetic predispositions, structural racism and other forms oppression, contributing factors are the ways that schools thoughtlessly and reflexively objectify students, reducing their worth to a number on a standardized test.

This harms them and makes them feel powerless to change the world, much less their life circumstances—including that of their families and communities. Worse yet, what gets reinscribed are reductive, sterile, and alienating ways of knowing that get normalized in the process.  Where is community in all of this?  Our communities get objectified, too.

Our teachers are adversely impacted, as well.  According to one study in the United Kingdom, 1 in 10 teachers takes antidepressants.  Ample research demonstrates high levels of anxiety and mental health issues among them, generally.  However, the brunt of all of this is arguably born by our children and youth who frequently have fewer defenses or who lack access and can afford the supports that they need.

All of this is an artifact of policies and practices that are designed to create hierarchies that are premised on competition, individualism, and ultimately, the false notion of white supremacy that hurts Anglo children and youth, too, since we don't get one without the other.  That is, the race that we put all children on since birth is way too much stress, even for the more privileged among us.  

The good news is that change is indeed possible.  That's why I and so many others advocate for eliminating high-stakes testing and Ethnic Studies.  Regarding Ethnic Studies, if done well, it re-humanizes schools and helps all children to be powerful and to derive an enhanced sense of self and purpose in life.  

Schools themselves benefit, too.  If for a moment, they get off the economic model bandwagon to—as the late Brazilian educator, Paulo Freire, advocated—put learning itself at the services of social justice.

I myself feel very blessed and fulfilled to have a job that allows me to do this on a daily basis.  It wish this for all of our youth.  Why can't we have a world where what we do in our lives, on a regular basis, serves the greater cause of fairness, equity, and social justice?

Peace, love, and justice for all in 2020. 💗🙋😁🍷🌹🏵

-Angela Valenzuela

The suicide rate for kids ages 10-14 nearly tripled in the past decade. Why? And what can we do?

By Annie Reneau | 12.05.19

I was 10 when my uncle Doug took his own life. I remember my mom getting the phone call and watching her slump down the kitchen wall, hand over her mouth. I remember her having to tell my dad to come home from work so she could tell him that his beloved baby brother had hung himself.

Doug had lived with us for a while. He was kind, gentle, and funny. He was only 24 when he died.

My uncle was so young—too young—but not as young as some who end their lives. Youth suicide in the U.S. is on the rise, and the numbers—and ages—are staggering.

According to the CDC, the number of 10 to 14 year-olds who took their own lives nearly tripled from 2007 to 2017. In the U.S., suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 10-24, and the third leading cause of death among 12-year-olds. In at least one state, Ohio, suicide has become the leading cause of death for kids ages 10 to 14.

It seems unfathomable that so many kids so young could want to end their own lives, much less actually do so, but that's the reality we're facing. Parents, caregivers and educators have to watch for red flags far earlier than most of us would ever imagine.

RELATED: Netflix cuts controversial suicide scene in '13 Reasons Why' more than two years later.

So what is behind this uptick? Why are more kids today dying by suicide than in recent generations?

An increase in mental illness is playing a big role. The vast majority of people who attempt to take their own life are struggling with a mental illness, such as clinical depression. And according to a study from the American Psychological Association published in March of 2019, certain types of mental illness have dramatically increased among young people—and only among young people—in the past decade.

"More U.S. adolescents and young adults in the late 2010s, versus the mid-2000s, experienced serious psychological distress, major depression or suicidal thoughts, and more attempted suicide," said Jean Twenge, PhD, lead study author and professor of psychology at San Diego State University. "These trends are weak or non-existent among adults 26 years and over, suggesting a generational shift in mood disorders instead of an overall increase across all ages."

Twenge believes that relatively sudden cultural shifts in the way kids spend their leisure time may be behind the spike in mental illness. "Cultural trends in the last 10 years may have had a larger effect on mood disorders and suicide-related outcomes among younger generations compared with older generations," she said. "These results suggest a need for more research to understand how digital communication versus face-to-face social interaction influences mood disorders and suicide-related outcomes and to develop specialized interventions for younger age groups."

So what can the average American do about this trend? How can we help?

Experts point to multiple avenues for helping prevent, identify, and treat mental illness that can lead to suicidal thoughts, as well as ways to make suicide attempts less likely.

- Encourage basic health maintenance

The first thing our daughter's therapist told us was that therapy for her anxiety wouldn't be nearly as effective without the basics of good sleep, nutrition, and exercise. While none of those things are cures or treatments in and of themselves, inadequate sleep, poor dietary habits, and lack of exercise can all affect mood, sometimes in dramatic ways, making mental health struggles worse. Encouraging healthy habits in our kids creates a foundation for better health overall, including mental health.

- Help kids be conscious of how digital media can affect them

Dr. Twenge emphasized how the ubiquitous screens in kids' lives can impact the healthy habits mentioned above, as well as healthy social interactions:

"First and most important is to get enough sleep. Make sure your device use doesn't interfere with sleep—don't keep phones or tablets in the bedroom at night, and put devices down within an hour of bedtime. Overall, make sure digital media use doesn't interfere with activities more beneficial to mental health such as face-to-face social interaction, exercise and sleep."

The pressures of social media and the potential for bullying and social isolation that goes along with them can also certainly play a role in a child's mental health. We have to be aware of how the online world impacts kids, be wise about when and how we introduce electronics, and help them navigate the digital landscape as they go.

- Be aware of risk factors and watch for warning signs

Boston Children's Hospital offers parents and caregivers a list of factors that put kids at risk for suicide as well as warning signs to look for:

Risk Factors:

·       Mental illness/psychiatric diagnosis

·       Family history of suicide and/or exposure to suicide Family history of mental illness

·       Physical/sexual abuse

·       Losses

·       Aggressive behavior/impulsivity

·       Lack of social support/social isolation

·       Poor coping skills

·       Access to ways of harming oneself, like guns, knives, etc.

·       Difficulties in dealing with sexual orientation

·       Physical illness

·       Family disruptions (divorce or problems with the law)

·       Traumatic event

Warning Signs:

·       Preoccupation with death (e.g., recurring themes of death or self-destruction in artwork or written assignments)

·       Intense sadness and/or hopelessness

·       Not caring about activities that used to matter

·       Social withdrawal from family, friends, sports, social activities

·       Substance abuse

·       Sleep disturbance (either not sleeping or staying awake all night)

·       Giving away possessions

·       Risky behavior

·       Lack of energy

·       Inability to think clearly/concentration problems

·       Declining school performance/increased absences from school

·       Increased irritability

·       Changes in appetite

- Get professional help early

If your child does seem to be exhibiting signs of depression or suicidal thoughts, don't hesitate to get help. It's easy for parents to think that a kid is just going through a phase or that it isn't really "that bad," but there's no harm in seeing a therapist even if you're not sure it's necessary. At worst, mental health professionals can help your child learn about how their brain works and give them tools to manage their thoughts and emotions. At best, early intervention may save a child's life.

RELATED: A huge thanks to those who openly share their mental illnesses. You saved my daughter.

- Talk openly about suicide and suicidal thoughts

Research shows that asking someone if they are feeling suicidal does not lead them to suicidal thoughts. Asking a child who seems depressed if they have thought about wanting to die or wanting to end their life is an important question that may help a child verbalize thoughts they've been afraid to share. Boston Children's Hospital recommends using clear, straight-forward language, such as "I'm worried about you. Have you been having thoughts about wanting to die or killing yourself?" It may be uncomfortable to bring up, but making it a topic of conversation conveys the message that it's okay to talk about it.

- Smash the stigma of mental illness

Many kids hide their true feelings because of the negative stigma surrounding mental and emotional struggles. Talking openly and matter-of-factly about mental illness is an important part of breaking the stigma. No one should feel ashamed or embarrassed to be struggling with their thoughts and emotions, any more than people should feel ashamed or embarrassed to struggle with physical illness. It's important for kids to know that they aren't alone, that these issues are common, that it's not their fault, and that there are ways to treat and manage them. Talking about a therapy appointment should be as normal as mentioning a physical check-up.

- Keep guns out of kids' reach

While there are multiple methods for suicide, firearms are by far the most immediate and lethal. Since access to weapons is a risk factor for suicide, how they are stored in the home makes a huge difference.

As the Harvard School of Public Health notes:

An NVISS study of firearm suicides among youths ages 17 and under occurring over a two-year period in four states and two counties found that 82% used a firearm belonging to a family member, usually a parent. When storage status was noted, about two-thirds of the firearms had been stored unlocked. Among the remaining cases in which the firearms had been locked, the youth knew the combination or where the key was kept or broke into the cabinet.

It's worth noting that families without guns at home have the lowest suicide rates. But for those who do own firearms, safe storage matters.

In a world where children are increasingly taking their own lives, knowing what to look for and how to help is vital. We can also strive to make sure young people know they have support and feel a sense of hope for the future. Suicide touches all of us eventually, so it's up to all of us to help prevent it in whatever way we can.

If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, call the 24-hr National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255).