Previous post
Teen girls across the U.S. are experiencing violence, hopelessness, and suicidal ideations in increasing numbers. New information from the CDC finds that teen girls are worse off than boys.
Teen girls across the United States are “engulfed in a growing wave of violence and trauma,” according to federal researchers who released data Monday showing increases in rape and sexual violence, as well as record levels of feeling sad or hopeless.
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. Almost 15 percent of teen girls said they were forced to have sex, an increase of 27 percent over two years and the first increase since the CDC began tracking it.
“If you think about every 10 teen girls that you know, at least one and possibly more has been raped, and that is the highest level we’ve ever seen,” said Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health, who said the rise of sexual violence almost certainly contributed to the glaring spike of depressive symptoms. “We are really alarmed,” she said.
The statistics, found in the CDC report, are pretty damned grim.
Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) seriously considered attempting suicide—up nearly 60% from a decade ago.
1 in 5 (18%) experienced sexual violence in the past year—up 20% since 2017, when CDC started monitoring this measure.
More than 1 in 10 (14%) had ever been forced to have sex—up 27% since 2019 and the first increase since CDC began monitoring this measure.
It isn’t just sexual violence, it’s also (which isn’t discussed in the CDC report) the bullying and outright violence among teen girls that is a growing issue. Case in point, the horrifying story of a teenager bullied and beaten at school so badly, that she ended up committing suicide.
Former teachers and students at New Jersey’s Central Regional High School — where tormented teen Adriana Kuch was beaten before taking her own life — claim CRHS has turned a blind eye to bullies for years.
The disturbing allegation surfaced along with a report that the Ocean County prosecutor met with school officials last week to discuss the school’s alleged failure to properly handle Adriana’s beat-down.
“There were days where I would break up three fights before homeroom even started,” Daniel Keiser, a former staffer who worked at the high school for two decades, recalled in a recent online posting.
“As a teacher there and a parent there who dealt with intense bullying, we would often plead with administration to get things under control, and only one of them ever tried,” he said.
The lockdowns are a significant contributor to the growing mental health issues among our young people.
“the stresses, isolation and loss of the #Covid-19 pandemic worsened mental-health issues among young people, many of whom were already struggling”
— Chris Shaver (@ChrisShaver64) February 13, 2023
https://t.co/8sxFy96k3R
What the lockdowns did do is essentially isolate kids from one another, from other adults, and played a significant role in hindering their ability to manage negative feelings and emotions. This thread outlines particularly well what the Covid lockdowns and isolations did to our young kids and teenagers. It’s worth reading in its entirety.
These children also did not have the experiences of a 15 year old before Covid hit.
— Jessica Hasson, PhD (@DrHasson2) February 12, 2023
They were locked down. They could not see their friends in person. Playground were shut down. Libraries were shut down. They could not even go to school in person.
Which not only contributed to extreme amounts of learning loss as we’ve discussed time and again, the “experts” are only just beginning to learn of the emotional and societal losses our kids have been experiencing for three years now.
There were also fewer distractions during online school. Teachers could keep students on mute to reduce distractions. Cameras were off so there was less to look at. Even some of the ambient classroom noises (moving chairs, tapping pencils) didn’t exist.
— Jessica Hasson, PhD (@DrHasson2) February 12, 2023
It’s the equivalent of an adult starting a job in a new field without any training. Take a second and imagine starting a new job without any training. It would be stressful, anxiety provoking, and you may get down on yourself because you feel like you are failing.
— Jessica Hasson, PhD (@DrHasson2) February 12, 2023
Far too many of our kids and teens have been shut away from incredibly important societal interactions. Which has also greatly hindered their emotional development. Which for those who were already experiencing problems prior to the Covid pandemic lockdowns, things just got worse.
Covid likely exacerbated many of the issues teen girls were already experiencing. This study by Jonathan Haidt outlines how this was a brewing problem since at least 2015 or earlier.
As you can see in Figure 2, and in most of the figures in the review doc, there was no sign of a problem before 2010, and the epidemic is well underway by 2015. You can also see that the rate of depression is much higher in girls, as is the absolute increase (since 2010 an additional 18% of girls suffered from depression in 2021, compared to an additional 6% of boys). However, the relative increase is similar in both sexes: around 150%. The rate had more than doubled before the Covid epidemic. The 2020 data were collected in early 2020, just before Covid restrictions, and the 2021 data were collected a year later before vaccines were widely available. You can see that Covid accelerated the rise in depression in that last year, but it was already rising really fast.
What is to be done about this? Watch our teens more closely for sure. Work to help them navigate and understand how to deal with negative emotions and negativity/bullying from others, and work to teach them resilience. What the CDC recommends is that schools can provide the answers by connecting students and teaching them to navigate these issues better. RIIIIGHT. Thousands of schools stayed shut down, some are still on a see-saw of open and shut because of the adults hysterical overreaction to Covid. And the CDC thinks SCHOOLS should be able to fix this? Not hardly and not by themselves they aren’t! Notice what is missing from the CDC recommendation on solving this issue? Parents.
Furthermore, with this new evidence, Anthony Fauci can no longer claim that the lockdowns didn’t harm our kids. It did and we will be dealing with the repercussions for decades.
Welcome Instapundit Readers!
Feature Photo Credit: Teen girl sad, anxious via Pixabay, cropped and modified
Scott says: Let not forget how some groups now feel untouchable, with the defund the police movement, and the riots, etc. The violence inflicted by these groups has increased exponentially..
Joe R. says: The CDC’s “hoping” . . .
there, fic’d it fer ya.
NTSOG says: Growing and developing girls in so-called progressive western society are in a real bind. They are on their ‘way’ to womanhood and have been told by Feminists they can ‘have it all’, but are suddenly finding that actually trans boys/men are frequently standing in their way and are considered more important and deserving than ‘real’ or natural women. Natural women have to defer to the superior Rights of M-to F trans fellas. Clearly teen girls have always found the teenage years confusing and difficult – I [as a male teacher] sure didn’t understand them when teaching co-ed secondary school – but it’s clearly much harder for them now.
GWB says: I [as a male teacher] sure didn’t understand them when teaching co-ed secondary school
I didn’t understand them when I was a teenage boy!
Kevin says: Nice job at cherry picking a few points from the CDC report on adolescent mental health and then attempting (poorly at best) to make the connection that the COVID lockdown is the reason for the increase in the teen mental health crisis. The report also addresses the astronomical increase in mental health/depression among GLBTQ youth and the isolation of children of color. If VG is going to write articles because they’re concerned about the mental health welfare of our nation’s children, stop leaving out the segments of society who are just as deserving and in need of our focus.
The MAGA conservative movement has focused their attention on “culture war issues” and without thinking through the implications of those viscous, vile, hateful attacks, it all seeps down to the children. Having worked in adolescent mental health, youth are amazing at picking up the subtle and “not so subtle” language and behavior of adults. The messages come across loud and clear. When the MAGA movement goes into overdrive about the illegitimacy of African American history (kids of color see/hear their attacks nightly on the news), the hateful rhetoric espoused towards GLBTQ youth nightly, and most importantly, the horrible impact social media is playing on young women … children pick up on all of that. We’ve known for generations about the subtle messages put out by media/advertisers and how destructive they are on women.
In addition to the unrealistic/destructive messages of social media, now comes a rather new phenomena (the past 20 years or so) of cyber bullying. Why aren’t the MAGA’s talking about parental rights … as in parental oversight? Where are the parents in this messed up society? Why aren’t parents monitoring their children’s use of social media? Why are parents locking guns away so six year old doesn’t get his hands on one and shoots his teacher? The MAGA crowd (and VG is part of that cesspool) so conveniently leaves out any responsibility of the parents and are now talking about the decisions the schools make? WTF? Who are the most important decision makers when it comes to children? PARENTS! Who are going to be the most effective individual when addressing a child’s behavior? PARENTS! Not all parents have the skills or abilities to “counsel” their children but they do have the ability to see when their child is sending hurtful/hateful/cruel messages to other kids. If the parent doesn’t know their kids’ social media footprint, they better damn well start now because it’s only going to get worse with the invention of new electronic devices.
VG has been harping on “freedom of speech”, “social medial being taken over by liberals”. “censoring speech” and the list goes on of accusations. That message doesn’t play well when you have an adolescent with a cell phone in their hands and they have the ability to anonymously target hate speech and other attacks against girls, GLBTQ youth, and kids of color. We all know how hurtful children/adolescents can be to one another. How often do parents have conversations with their children about social media and the messages/comments they make on social media?
Where are the parents in all of this mess?
GWB says: Why aren’t the MAGA’s talking about parental rights … as in parental oversight?
Well, if you read Victory Girls***, you’ll see that question asked A LOT. If you read other “right-wing” media you’ll see that question asked A LOT. And you’ll see answers, ranging from ‘welfare queens’* to prior generations being raised in the public schools to ‘no-fault divorce’ to the loss of generational continuity**. And most of them have some validity.
(* The idea that welfare rules made it easier if there wasn’t a man around. It is true, though not totally determinant.)
(** The worship of youth destroyed the idea of learning wisdom from our elders, leading parents to often feel isolated when it came to care of their children.)
Of course, your use of “MAGA” tells me you probably didn’t actually pay attention to the post. So did this:
The report also addresses the astronomical increase in mental health/depression among GLBTQ youth and the isolation of children of color.
Which you then accused them of leaving out of this post. Which is weird, because I read it thoroughly, and no group was singled out (except for adolescent females). So, by definition they weren’t left out, because the post was talking about ALL of them.
And, of course, you might be part of the problem:
Having worked in adolescent mental health
Since you’re so focused on all of the Progressive buzzwords and tribalism, I’m guessing you probably helped to perpetuate a lot of the nihilism that plagues young people today. You tell a lot of lies in your second paragraph.
Who are the most important decision makers when it comes to children? PARENTS!
Funny, because progressivism (which you are steeped in says exactly the opposite. As a matter of fact, your sort demands that schools replace the parents because they know better.
(*** You don’t read them. You came here as a drive-by slam against someone you were told was a nasty, right-wing bunch. You might try actually reading them. But that might require an open mind.)
Darleen Click says: Sorry, Kev, but the the social contagion of “The Queering of American culture” is real. Lockdowns exacerbated the already increasing demands that all standards of behavior and identity be done away with. This was exacerbated by the 1 year + lockdown.
Funny you *feel* that there has been attacks on “LGBTQLMNOPABC%@#” community when LGB youth are preyed upon by the TQ+ crowd.
Your monomania about “MAGA” doesn’t change those facts “gender clinics” that sterilize and mutilate minors in America went from 0 to 200-300 clinics across the US in less than 10 years. It doesn’t change the facts that teens are 1) susceptible to ‘social contagions’ (e.g. suicide clusters) 2) teen girls are vastly more susceptible to social contagions (e.g. anorexia/eating disorders). When the latter was all ‘media’ at the time could talk about, it exploded among groups of teen girls – but at least hundreds of clinics weren’t being established to give out diet pills and liposuction.
VG pointed out the alarms being sounded about teen-mental health near the BEGINNING of the unconscionable lockdowns. VG covered how teen girls were being subjected to irreversible damage 3 years ago.
Your MAGA monomania demands that you ignore the uphill battle parents have been fighting — not just with social media and its organized grooming creeps but with teachers, principals, school boards – to the point that the execrable Merrick Garland (spit) decided to sic the FBI on parents who dare to be one ounce less than obsequious in their behavior to school boards.
Indeed, after 22 years in the judicial system, I see little more than classic grooming techniques employed by the Queer Theory/CRT & radical Left ideologues targeting minors. It ain’t the “MAGA”s, Kev.
Your MAGA monomania results in complete lies, like about the teaching of history — e.g. the AP course rejected in FL had little to do with HISTORY and everything to do about fantasy propaganda in service of anti-American ideology.
You can’t teach kids to hate each other, hate their parents, hate their country, INDEED, hate their own SEX and not victimize the already vulnerable teens wrestling with the huge changes puberty alone imposes on them. But again, that’s a feature, not a bug of Leftism.
Seek help for your monomania, Kevin. I don’t feel you’re fit to be around any vulnerable teen because of it.
Nina Bookout says: Kevin, as we’ve documented on multiple occasions, parents are being shoved aside. If there is one thing that the lockdowns did for many parents it is that they realized what their children were being taught…or not taught. And they started speaking up.
Only to have the likes of the CDC and DOJ describe the concerned parents as terrorists, which we reported on.
Yes, there will always be some parents who aren’t involved/engaged in their children’s lives. That’s on them.
As far as the tragedy regarding the six year old bringing a gun to school, that day was the first day since pre-school that neither of the parents were at school with that child. The parents KNEW as did the school that the child was incredibly troubled. The teachers warned the administration and the school did nothing. The same thing with the NJ school district regarding the bullying and beating of that poor child. The district did nothing, and then tried to blame the parents.
As we noted just a few days ago, a school counselor provided a young girl with a chest binder and told her to NOT tell her parents about it. Talk about damaging a child’s mental and physical well-being!
As far as addressing the cyber bullying issues, which we’ve addressed several times, look up Safe2Tell. It’s one tool that IS working to counter the huge problems with bullying, cyber bullying, and more.
To your point about kids picking up cues from the adults, take a good hard look at the adults at the CDC, the teachers unions, teachers themselves, and the media. The messages of doom, gloom, and ‘everyone will die if we open the schools again’ have been abundant.
ALL teen girls are of concern. In fact, all TEENAGERS are wresting with depression, violence, bullying, and more. So here’s a question for you Kevin. Why aren’t those “experts” pushing to have more mental health resources available across the country to address these issues?
Do you know what is missing from the CDC report and recommendations? Any plan or even detailed suggestions regarding addressing the mental health issues. Instead it’s all about plans to fix/support/guide teens through their sexual health. Mental health and physical health go hand in hand …yet the CDC is promoting one instead of both.
GWB says: One of the problems with the lack of notification of parents is the “but they’ll just tell her she isn’t broken and refuse to let her ‘get help’.” What’s important here is the reasoning behind it. The problem for those in the school administrations is they are really (though, often without realizing it) in conflict with the parents’ values – IOW, their religion.
I know I really do harp on this, but Progressivism is a religion. Despite the claim of their theologians that since they worship reason they have no real god. And fundamentalist Progressives really are in conflict with and desirous of tearing down Christianity – and most of the parents still retain some measures of Christian values, despite decades of Progressive battering. To achieve their hedonistic, transhuman utopia the Progressives must destroy the morality that built and maintains civilization. And that means getting the kids out from under their parents’ eye.
No, it isn’t grooming in the usual sense of just wanting to get a kid for sex. But it uses the exact same methods – to prepare a kid for sex and a transhuman mentality.
NTSOG says: “… Progressivism is a religion.”
But not a benevolent religion. More like some of the dictatorial sects that end up destroying their gullible members. Jonestown, Wako and others come to mind. Such sects are more about the self-elected leaders gaining power than caring about believers who appear always to be there to serve the Elect.
Cameron says: The State is Mother. The State is Father. You shall have no Gods other than The State.
It’s why Biden’s DOJ labeled parents as domestic terrorists for not going along with the grooming.
GWB says: And, once again, a nice, long, thoughtful comment ruined by WordPress telling me there’s an internal server error.
Y’all got something wrong, ladies.
GWB says: I sent y’all an email about the error I’m seeing, both to your contact address and to the “webmaster” address. I have no idea what’s causing the problem. I was able to post the very last section below.
Nina Bookout says: Thanks GWB! Working on the bugs that keep cropping up. thanks always for your thoughtful commentary! 😉
Kate says: I got your email, GWB. I responded. Thanks, Buddy.
GWB says: What is to be done about this?
Get them away from Progressivism and to Christianity. Get their values straight, IOW. Christianity helps to create healthy self-esteem, resistance to peer pressure, a set of morals to guide their behavior, and a healthy outlook on sex.
And, teach them to defend themselves (Christianity will help them do that emotionally and intellectually) from bullies and teachers. Teach them that sometimes violence is the answer – when it’s absolutely necessary. (Kenny Rogers’ song, Coward of the County is actually a great lesson plan, IMO.)
To do that, you need good parents. Where good parents aren’t in great supply, they need parent figures who can show them the way. They need Christian teachers and coaches. They need family time (assuming good parents). And they need time with real friends (not chosen for their diversity, but for their character).
16 Comments