By: Kaitlin Garza
FAYETTEVILLE. Ark. (UATV) – The CDC released their Youth Risk Behavior Survey on Monday Feb. 13.
The report highlights the current mental health crisis taking place in U.S. High Schools and the high number of struggling youth.
Using data from 2011 to 2021, the report found that 42% of high school students felt persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness for two weeks or longer.
Female students reported experiencing nearly double the amount of sadness, suicide risks, and violence compared to that reported by their male peers.
“I see people on social media and I’m like, why isn’t that me?” said Lexi Gray, Heritage High School student.
Gray said most people her age are feeling depressed because of the role social media plays in their lives.
Aside from the negative impact social media often has on young people’s lives, Gray also said her school doesn’t always provide students with the right help when it comes to mental health issues.
“We attempt to find just lists of therapists and people who have openings, and we are struggling,” said Rajhi Thompson, Fayetteville High School Counselor. “Everybody’s busy, everybody’s full.”
Thompson also said public schools in the area are feeling the increasing number of mental health issues among students as the resources they can provide for them are becoming less available.
Although most schools have mental health counselors on campus, they usually can only help around thirty students at a time.
With therapists in schools being limited, Thompson said it often becomes impossible for all students reporting mental health issues to get the help they need.
“I’m worried about what’s gonna take place in the future,” said Thompson.
For teen mental health resources available in Northwest Arkansas visit Ozark Guidance and TASC.