The New Pandemic: The Teenage Mental Health Crisis | Lily Green | TEDxYouth@LincolnStreet

Summary

In "The New Pandemic: The Teenage Mental Health Crisis," Lily Green addresses the alarming rise in anxiety and depression among high school students today, highlighting factors such as peer competition, sleep deprivation, and the complexities of teenage relationships. Green shares her personal struggle with mental health issues despite seemingly having a stable life and urges students, parents, and educational institutions to take action by fostering open discussions and providing more resources to support teenagers. This thought-provoking talk emphasizes the urgent need to address the pressures that society places on adolescents and encourages a more accepting approach towards their well-being.

Highlights

• Lily Green shares her personal experiences with anxiety and depression during her high school years. 🎓
• Discusses the intense peer competition among students striving for scholarships and university spots. 🎯
• Explains how early school start times contribute to sleep deprivation in teenagers. ⏰
• Relationships in high school, whether familial or social, can add stress rather than relief. 🤝
• Encourages open communication about mental health in homes and schools. 🔊

Key Takeaways

• Teen mental health is a growing crisis, affecting 70% of high school students. 🌟
• Competition among peers is a major stressor for teenagers. 🚩
• Sleep deprivation is linked to worsening mental health conditions. 💤
• Family and social relationships play a significant role in teenage mental health. ❤️
• Open discussions and societal changes are essential in tackling this crisis. 🗣️

Overview

Lily Green's TEDx talk, "The New Pandemic: The Teenage Mental Health Crisis," delves into the alarming statistics regarding adolescent mental health. With a startling 70% of high school students struggling with anxiety and depression, Green brings a personal perspective to the discussion, sharing her own battle with these issues amidst academic and extracurricular successes.

At the heart of Green's talk is the concept of peer competition, where students are pitted against each other for coveted scholarships and college acceptances. She highlights how these pressures, combined with insufficient sleep due to early school start times, exacerbate mental health problems like anxiety and depression, increasing the risk of serious outcomes.

Green calls for a systemic change, urging parents and educators to foster open dialogues about mental health and reduce societal pressures. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting students' well-being, advocating for an environment that prioritizes mental health as much as academic achievement.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 01:00: Introduction to Teenage Mental Health Crisis This chapter titled 'Introduction to Teenage Mental Health Crisis' discusses the alarming statistics concerning mental health issues among high school students. It mentions that seven out of every ten high school students suffer from anxiety and depression. The chapter also provides a historical context, highlighting how depression was once considered a rare condition nearly 50 years ago, according to the National Education Association and the United States Library.
• 01:00 - 03:00: Personal Story and Common Struggles The chapter discusses the significant stress levels among high school students due to academic pressures, referencing a 2009 study by the American Psychological Association that found 45% of these students are stressed. The narrative includes a personal story from February 20, where the individual experienced severe anxiety, depression, insomnia, and disordered eating while maintaining a perfect GPA and involvement in numerous extracurricular activities, despite having a seemingly stable life.
• 03:00 - 05:00: Causes of Mental Health Issues in Teenagers The chapter discusses the mental health challenges faced by teenagers today, with a personal testimony about contemplating suicide due to societal pressures. It acknowledges the widespread nature of such feelings among high school students and highlights that millions are currently struggling with mental health issues. The chapter suggests that while each case is unique, there are at least three significant factors suspected to contribute to the decrease in mental health among teenagers.
• 05:00 - 06:30: The Reality of Teenage Relationships This chapter explores the concept of peer competition among teenagers. It highlights the intense competition that arises as teenagers vie for scholarships, university placements, or positions in varsity teams. The chapter underscores the pressure that builds as these young individuals, who have grown up together, are pitted against each other in crucial life decisions during the ages of 16 to 18. It suggests that, despite seeming trivial, this competition is a significant aspect of teenage life, shaped by societal expectations and the educational system.
• 06:30 - 08:30: Societal Expectations and Pressures The chapter 'Societal Expectations and Pressures' explores the immense pressure placed on adolescents as they face critical decisions that may impact their future. A scholarship is portrayed as a significant financial relief and opportunity for attending better universities without incurring debt. Additionally, achieving a varsity position is highlighted as a potential pathway to securing a full ride to college, and gaining a spot at a certain university is depicted as a crucial step towards jumpstarting a career. The chapter critically examines how these expectations are thrust upon young people during their formative years, a period marked by hormonal changes and emotional turmoil, ultimately leading to considerable stress as they navigate these life-defining choices.
• 08:30 - 11:00: Call to Action for Students, Parents, and Schools This chapter discusses the critical issue of sleep deprivation among teenagers and its significant impact on their mental health. It highlights how early school start times contribute to insufficient sleep, linking this to increased risks of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. The importance of addressing these concerns is underscored by the potential for severe outcomes, including a heightened risk of suicide.

The New Pandemic: The Teenage Mental Health Crisis | Lily Green | TEDxYouth@LincolnStreet Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] seven according to the national education association seven out of every ten high school students currently suffer from anxiety and depression today for context nearly 50 years ago depression was considered a rare condition according to the united states library
• 00:30 - 01:00 of medicine in a 2009 study conducted by the american psychological association nearly 45 percent of high school students were found to be stressed out by school pressures that is nearly half of all students in the nation and that number will climb unless we do something about it back in february 20 i was suffering from severe anxiety and depression insomnia and disordered eating i was also a 4.0 student who was involved in more extracurriculars than you could count and had a pretty stable life
• 01:00 - 01:30 yet i was still contemplating taking my own i know that my story is not an anomaly for high school students these days i know that millions of teenagers are having these feelings and mental health issues at this very moment i know that many have died due to the pressures placed upon them by society so knows for sure as every case is different there are at least three suspected significant factors for a lack of mental health and teenagers
• 01:30 - 02:00 one that is not necessarily mentioned as often as it should be is what is known as peer competition pure competition is the notion that kids who have grown up together are now being forced to compete against each other who will get the big scholarship from the school who will get a spot at a certain university or who will make varsity all these questions probably seem really silly but take a step back and realize that for over a decade we teach these children that when it comes to the 16 to 18 year range they need to make the major decisions on what they want to do for the rest of
• 02:00 - 02:30 their lives a scholarship in this case could mean money to attend a better university or to not being crippling debt for the rest of your life a varsity position could be a one-way ticket to a full ride and a spot on at a certain university could be the head start to your career we teach these adolescents that in the most hormonal drama-filled and hectic time of their lives they need to make the major decisions on what they want to do for the rest of it the real question is who wouldn't be stressed
• 02:30 - 03:00 now on a more scientific side of things the consistent lack of sleep that teenagers are getting is a major factor to a lack of mental health the average high school in america starts at 7 59 a.m which doesn't include before school activities or what you might call a zero period and the american sleep association has routinely found that mental health disorders like anxiety depression and bipolar disorder have been linked to poor sleep and sleep deprivation in teenagers which in turn all increase the risk of suicide
• 03:00 - 03:30 so if we do all the math involving commute times getting ready etcetera we see that teenagers are only getting about six hours of sleep at night which isn't enough for a full-grown adult let alone an adolescent my third and final topic for you today is relationships yes i know that's very broad but when someone thinks of high school they typically think of the american high school dream with lots of friends a significant other and loving parents but that's not always
• 03:30 - 04:00 the case in my opinion it's pretty easy to make friends in high school as everyone is essentially suffering together but keeping those relationships is the tricky part the amount of gossip drama stress and peer pressure is insanely toxic for instance the best friends you thought you had last month destroyed a new sports team so they don't have time for you anymore and your girlfriend just broke up with you over the text message because it's not you it's her and sure your parents are getting a divorce but please continue
• 04:00 - 04:30 working on that 10-page essay due tomorrow at 8am overall we often see students harmed by the pressures they face in day-to-day society it seems as though one more extracurricular one more hour in the day or even one more friend can allow the means to the end teenagers who in the greatest developmental period of their lives are forcing these burdens on their backs in order to live up to their parents expectations to this american ideal or even to their own expectations
• 04:30 - 05:00 what kind of a society are we to ask children to nearly kill themselves in order to fit our mold of the average american teenager i'm not only here to preach about my side of things or to talk about how detrimental our society can be to children i'm here to advise i'm here to be a voice to those who are overwhelmed stuck in the shadows clinging onto the idea of the perfect student so to students let me tell you you are worthy of sleep without stress
• 05:00 - 05:30 you are deserving of good grades without three or more hours of homework at night you are worthy and of love and acceptance by society no matter how your lifestyle looks to parents your child is suffering your child is hurting and the sad fact of the matter is you may realize this you may recognize this yet you turn a blind eye because they're just hard workers and they boost your facebook page with all their accomplishments on the other hand you can see absolutely nothing wrong with your child maybe they
• 05:30 - 06:00 hide the long nights the addictions and the toxic relationships from you but it's never too late to have these open discussions about mental health in your household and to work to work to address the issues our teenagers are facing and finally to schools around the nation address this issue sure rome wasn't built in a day but every day they were laying bricks every day is an opportunity to offer more mental and physical health
• 06:00 - 06:30 resources to push back start times to limit the amount of homework loads teachers can place upon students every day is an opportunity to address the issues our teenagers are facing these days students are facing the pinnacle of mental health disorders in all of history we see this on our social media feeds day after day another child lost to their own mind this is a crisis now is the time to recognize these issues and to act
• 06:30 - 07:00 work in your communities your local government your school board and even your own household to alleviate the pressures we all collectively place upon teenagers work to be more accepting of students doing their best instead of demanding the most thank you [Music] you