A new CDC survey of New Hampshire high school students found that while the number of teens struggling with mental health has decreased slightly, it’s still higher than pre-pandemic levels, especially among girls.
Survey data on youth risk behavior collected in 2023 showed that 51% of teenage girls and 28% of teenage boys said persistent feelings of hopelessness had prevented them from engaging in their usual activities. Thirty-three percent of students said they were struggling with their overall mental health, including feelings of stress, depression and anxiety.
At Spaulding High School in Rochester, students started a club this school year to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health issues among students.
Isabella Beno, a sophomore and member of Spaulding’s Mental Health Awareness Club, was in middle school when the pandemic began, and she said it’s still lingering on students.
“We were unable to express our feelings most of the time and were sucked into our screens and laptops, which became our only source of education and our only way of communicating with others,” Beno said. “I think that definitely affected our ability to communicate and be ourselves in front of others.”
Third-year student Dylan Gravarese said he has seen fellow student-athletes struggle with their mental health as well.
“Because I wrestle, I have to watch my weight, which creates a lot of mental issues for me – thinking I’m overweight or fat, and having anxiety. [that] It could cause more problems in the future,” Gravarese said.
While most students in the club say social media has a negative impact on their peers’ mental health, sophomore Isabella Dumont pointed out that social media can also lead people to seek help.
“I went to a therapist for about a year, but I’ve always had trouble talking about how I was feeling, so it wasn’t entirely helpful for me,” Dumont said. “Social media helped me know I’m not alone and that there are people out there who can help me.”
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This spring, club members hosted a health resource fair to help students know what help is available to them. They’re among a growing number of Spaulding students who have called for more mental health training and resources at their school. In response, the school said social workers will receive training in teen mental health first aid, and next school year, second-graders will receive the same training to learn about mental health issues and the signs of someone in crisis.
Susan Stearns, executive director of mental health advocacy group NAMI New Hampshire, said one of the silver linings of the pandemic is that teens are becoming more open about their mental health.
“Our young people are determined to ensure that these issues never again remain in the shadows, and that stigma and discrimination do not prevent people from seeking help and supporting each other,” Stearns said.
Stearns also warned that the difference in mental health scores between teenage girls and boys in the CDC study could be because girls are more open about their emotional states.
“I want to remind parents, educators and others who work with young people that sometimes boys don’t share their feelings well, but we still need to reach out to them and have those conversations.”
Gravarese said students often hide their mental health issues for fear of being teased by their peers.
“I hope this club helps to destigmatize the issue, bring it to light and show people that it’s okay to ask for help if they’re having problems.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8.
These articles are shared by our partners at The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, Co-nh.org.
