Mental Health in Adolescents and Young Adults Research Paper Example

Miley Cyrus once said, “So many people look at my depression as me being ungrateful, but that is not it. I can’t help it… There’s nothing worse than being fake happy.” (Cyrus). Most people can relate to this quote in some way. We all will most likely struggle with mental health at one point in our life, but the problem is that mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression are becoming much more common. As an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media, and drugs and alcohol, the rates of anxiety and depression are at an all-time high. To fully understand the increase of mental illnesses, especially with students, we must examine the most prominent causes of anxiety and depression. First, we will look at two studies that show a rapid increase in anxiety and depression amongst college students. We will then read about the causes of this increase. Causes include online schooling and the COVID-19 pandemic, social media, and drugs and alcohol.

Multiple studies about mental health in adolescents and young adults have occurred over the last decade. Most of which have found the rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide have increased. Mary E. Duffy is a professor at Florida State University. She researched two major national surveys that included students aged 18-22 (Duffy). From 2007 to 2018, The National College Health Assessment and the Healthy Minds Study were created to examine the trend of mood and anxiety (Duffy). “Participants, randomly selected by their educational institution, completed self-report measures of past-year mood, anxiety, self-injury, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.” (Duffy). Approximately, 800,000 college students filled out one of the two surveys (Duffy). In both studies, the rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicidal ideation and attempts increased drastically by almost doubling (Duffy). The findings of these two surveys have proven that mental health is going downhill amongst college students. Concern within education administrators and universities throughout the nation has risen.

Penn State University released a yearly mental health report in 2019. In this report, Penn State reported that mental health treatments in higher education have rapidly increased over the last ten years (Penn State University). Due to the constant increase in demand, college counseling centers had increased therapy sessions by 30-40 percent between 2009 and 2015 (Penn State University). Anxiety and depression continue to be identified as the leading concern by students (Penn State University). In 2018, rates of anxiety hadn’t increased for the first time in five years, but rates of depression continued to rise (Penn State University). Many of the counselors at Penn State are hoping that the increase in mental illnesses will end soon, but this is unlikely. Ben Locke is a senior director of Penn State Counseling and Psychological Services. He stated, “... institutions must be creative and holistic in their response to a new level of demand that will not go away …” (Penn State University). Without identifying and preventing the causes of this mental illness surge, college treatment centers are soon to be overrun. 

A major cause of increased anxiety and depression over the last two years is the COVID-19 pandemic and online schooling. Research done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shows that the pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of children (Ao). The CDC found that emergency room visits relating to female adolescent suicide attempts have increased by 50% since 2019 (Ao). Other emergency room visits relating to mental health in kids aged from 5 to 11 increased by 24%, and kids aged from 12-17 increased by 31% (Ao). Cabrina Campbell, a professor of psychiatry at Penn Medicine, is concerned that kids may also be affected by PTSD (Ao). “Gen Zers who have been exposed to unexpected death or threat of death, and then not able to gather and grieve a loss… you may have nightmares…” said Campbell (qtd. In Ao). If this goes untreated, it may lead to unhealthy coping skills such as drug and alcohol use and self-harm (Ao). Isolation and social distancing can also affect the mental health of youth. Having a decrease in social interactions at school can cause depression and a feeling of loneliness. At the beginning of 2020, a survey through Pollfish was conducted with 200 college students that were participating in online school (Lee). This survey was used to examine the mental health of distant-learning students. Results indicated increases in anxiety by 60.8%, feeling of loneliness by 54.1%, and depression by 59.8% (Lee). These college students stated that isolation was very difficult along with the worrying COVID-19 brought (Lee). Struggles that arose in schoolings, such as not being able to get help from professors and simply not understanding the work, along with social isolation and loneliness, led to these increases. 

As many students were at home for school, this also meant there was more access and time to surf the internet. Social media and internet usage is another cause of increased anxiety and depression amongst youth. Research done by the Pew Research Center states that at least 92% of teens are on social media (Keles). “Warnings have been issued by psychologists and other experts on how younger people are engaging with social media and related impairment to personal and social development.” (Keles). A review of 11 recent studies that measured the relationship between social media use and depressive symptoms in adolescents showed a directly proportional relationship (Keles). Social media has created unrealistic expectations for young people, especially teenage girls (Johnson). Influencers that have had plastic surgery, or that have altered their appearances in any way, create a false sense of reality. Teens see this and think these influencers have the stereotypical “perfect” face and body. This creates a huge sense of self-consciousness and depression (Amedie, pg. 7). The internet also enables an increase in bullying (Amedie). Cyberbullying is the most popular type of bullying since it can be anonymous. Bullying is a very real and common cause of suicide attempts in youth. Two ways kids try an escape these conflicts created by social media are through drugs and alcohol.

Drugs and alcohol have become popular among the younger population. By twelfth grade, two-thirds of students reported that they have tried alcohol, half have used marijuana, and two-fifths have smoked cigarettes or vaped (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The use of these substances over time leads to changes in the brain. “Changes in the function of multiple brain circuits that control pleasure/rewards, stress, decision-making, impulse control, learning and memory… These changes make it harder for those with an addiction to experience pleasure in response to natural rewards.” (NIDA). These changes cause mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, paranoia and hallucinations, and aggression or moody behaviors (NIDA). Alcohol and drugs may create this feeling of happiness or reward for those that are struggling with addiction and mental illnesses. People will continue to do these drugs and drink alcohol because they become dependent on it, and this will continue to cause an increase in anxiety and depression rates.

A major increase in mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression, is the direct result of the principles talked about above. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CDC found that emergency room visits relating to the mental health of children increased rapidly (Ao). Studies also showed that isolation and online schooling caused increases in anxiety and depression. Recently, 11 studies about the relationship between social media and mental health were reviewed. All proved that there is a direct relationship between social media and internet use and the increase of mental illnesses (Keles).  Another important cause of anxiety and depression is the use of drugs and alcohol. The brain changes and circuits in our brain no longer function correctly. A variety of mental illnesses are caused by these changes. As increases in anxiety and depression continue, it is critical that we continue to shed light on these struggles. It is not just up to celebrities like Miley Cyrus to vocalize personal experiences, this responsibility falls on every individual. As awareness grows, hopefully, we will find ways to ease anxiety and depression.