Newport Academy and The Trevor Project Partner to Smash the Stigma Surrounding Teen Mental Health Issues

One in six US teens has a mental health disorder. One in three teens will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 18. Almost 14 percent of teens have reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode in the past year, and 60 percent of those teens do not receive any consistent mental health treatment. Even in states with prevalent access to mental health services, more than one-third of youth are still not receiving the mental health services they need.

These stark statistics from Mental Health America’s 2021 Youth Data survey highlight the need for greater awareness around the mental health struggles our teens are facing. And these numbers have only been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, which has led to increased isolation, anxiety, and depression among young people.

To help meet this need, Newport Academy is partnering with The Trevor Project to launch the #smashthestigma campaign. During Mental Health Awareness Month in May and Pride Month in June, Newport Academy will match every dollar donated up to $13,000 in order to reach our goal of $26,000 to support The Trevor Project’s mission to end suicide among LGBTQ youth—including free, confidential 24/7 crisis counseling for LGBTQ young people via phone, text, and chat; innovative education, advocacy, and research on youth mental health; and TrevorSpace, the world’s largest safe space social networking site for LGBTQ youth.

The Impact of the COVID Pandemic on Teen Mental Health

According to a recent national poll carried out by Michigan Medicine, nearly 50 percent of parents have noticed a new or worsening mental health condition in their teen since the pandemic started, with three in every four parents saying that the pandemic has negatively affected their teen’s social interactions. The predominant increases were in anxiety and depression symptoms, with parents also reporting that teens’ sleeping patterns were disrupted and that they were withdrawing from family and displaying aggressive behavior due to isolation.

Not only have teens in the United States been dealing with the impacts of COVID and social isolation, but also intense political unrest, gun violence, and an increasing reliance on social media and technology as their only sources of personal interaction. Teens whose social lives are “on pause” could also be more susceptible to using drugs and alcohol as ways to numb the pain and anxiety associated with this time of instability.

Instead of turning to parents, guardians, or other resources available, teens have been relying on gaming and social media, particularly TikTok, to fill the void left by social distancing and to deal with the boredom of isolation, according to a report on social media and isolation from the Child Mind Institute and California Partners Project. The authors of the report point out that constant tech use interferes with two of the basic pillars of teen health and well-being: sleep and exercise. In fact, 65 percent of teens interviewed reported little or no physical activity, and the majority were still on their phones at least an hour after bedtime. Moreover, the report notes that even with the rise in video calls and online interaction, teens are missing a key phase of identity development that occurs through spending face-to-face time with peers.

13 Warning Signs of a Teen Mental Health Disorder

1. Disruption in sleeping habits, either not sleeping enough or sleeping too much
2. Sudden decline in academic performance or refusal to attend school
3. Increase in anger and aggression
4. Rise in anxiety and worry, overly nervous, shaking or restless
5. New or increased substance abuse
6. Changes in weight, personal hygiene, and/or eating habits
7. Withdrawing from friends and family
8. Talking about feeling hopeless or trapped, expressing negative or suicidal thoughts in person or on social media
9. Trouble concentrating or loss of focus
10. An alarming amount of time spent on social media or gaming
11. Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
12. Physical problems, such as headaches and stomachaches
13. Risk-taking or self-destructive behavior

“Experts are just beginning to understand the mental health impacts of the multiple crises in 2020 that have deeply impacted so many. But we know that suicide is still a public health crisis that continues to disproportionately impact LGBTQ youth. The need for robust research, systematic data collection, and comprehensive mental health support has never been greater.”

—Amit Paley, CEO & Executive Director, The Trevor Project

How LGBTQ Youth Have Been Affected by 2020

One of the demographics that has experienced the most significant mental health impacts during the pandemic is LGBTQ youth. To assess that impact, The Trevor Project conducted a survey in July 2020, including nearly 1,600 LGBTQ and straight, cisgender youth (ages 13–24) in the United States. The results showed that LGBTQ youth were significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and loneliness than their straight, cis peers, and also less likely to have access to mental healthcare.

Furthermore, The Trevor Project’s “All Black Lives Matter” report, released in October 2020, found that 44 percent of the 2,500 Black LGBTQ young people surveyed had seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months, 55 percent had experienced anxiety, and 63 percent had symptoms of major depressive disorder. Among Black transgender and nonbinary youth, 59 percent had considered suicide, 61 percent reported self-harm, and 70 percent had experienced anxiety and depression.

Why are LGBTQ teens and young adults at higher risk of mental health disorders and suicide? Rejection or lack of support from family, feelings of isolation or “otherness,” societal stigma, harassment, and threats of violence all negatively impact the mental health of LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project’s 2020 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, the largest such survey ever conducted, compiled data on these issues drawn from the responses of more than 40,000 LGBTQ youth ages 13–24.

13 Facts From The Trevor Project’s Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health

Here are 13 LGBTQ youth statistics from the survey and additional research done by The Trevor Project.

1. Every 45 seconds in the United States, at least one LGBTQ youth attempts suicide.
2. 20 percent of LGBTQ teens (ages 13–18) in the survey reported attempting suicide in the past year.
3. 44 percent of teens (ages 13–17) who considered suicide also made an attempt.
4. More than half of transgender and nonbinary youth surveyed reported seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months
5. In the year prior to the survey, 21 percent of transgender and nonbinary teens attempted suicide, vs. 11 percent of cisgender teens.
6. 48 percent of LGBTQ youth engaged in self-harm in the 12 months prior to the survey, including 60 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth.
7. LGBTQ youth are four times as likely to have suicidal thoughts, to make a plan for suicide, and to attempt suicide than their peers.
8. 55 percent of survey respondents, and nearly two-thirds of transgender and nonbinary youth, reported having symptoms of major depression in the two weeks prior to the survey.
9. In the same time period, 68 percent of the LGBTQ youth—including more than three-quarters of transgender and nonbinary youth—experienced symptoms of anxiety disorder.
10. One-third of LGBTQ youth surveyed reported being physically threatened or harmed at some point in their life due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
11. Close to half of respondents wanted help from a mental health professional during the year prior to the survey, but were unable to receive it.
12. Six out of every 10 LGBTQ youth reported that someone—most often a parent or caregiver—tried to convince them to change their gender identity or sexual orientation, and only 20 percent of trans and nonbinary youth said their gender identity is respected by “all or most” people in their lives.
13. 29 percent of LGBTQ youth have been kicked out of their homes, run away from home, or experienced homelessness.

These findings offer a fuller understanding of why the rates of LGBTQ teen suicide ideation and attempts are so high, and why individuals, families, and organizations must work together to smash the stigma and raise mental health and suicide prevention awareness.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, call the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text START to 678-678 to access a Trevor crisis counselor, or instant message via TrevorChat at thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now/.

How We Can Raise Awareness for Teen Mental Health Issues and Smash the Stigma Together

Newport Academy is dedicated to providing support and treatment to teens struggling with a mental health disorder by providing effective, evidence-based treatment that addresses the trauma and attachment wounds at the root of depression, anxiety, and co-occurring disorders. Our mission is to empower teens and restore families. That’s why we’re matching every dollar donated to the #smashthestigma campaign up to $13,000 in order to reach our goal of $26,000, to support the vital work of The Trevor Project.

Sources:

The Trevor Project 2020 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health