CDC Survey Reveals 37% High School Mental Health Decline during Pandemic; Experts Discuss Chronic Absenteeism, Smartphone Usage, Safety Concerns

Child and adolescent family therapist Dr. Darby Fox, clinical psychologist Dr. Kevin Gilliland, and family psychologist Dr. Jeff Gardere discuss the concerning findings from a recent CDC survey that revealed 37% of high school students experienced poor mental health during the pandemic. The discussion also touches upon other pressing issues affecting today’s youth such as chronic absenteeism, boredom in classrooms, safety concerns at schools, and excessive smartphone usage leading to negative impacts on their social and academic development. While previous generations have always expressed worries about young people, these problems require immediate attention due to the unique challenges of this generation including widespread remote learning during critical years of educational and social growth as well as the yet-to-be fully understood effects of ubiquitous smartphone usage. The survey results also highlight disparities among different student demographic groups such as LGBTQ students, female students, Black teens who feel less safe or bored at school than their peers leading to higher rates of chronic absenteeism and negative perceptions towards social media’s impact on mental health. It is crucial for schools to prioritize safety above all else before implementing any further initiatives. The authors emphasize the urgent need for actionable solutions that address these issues, as students themselves are pointing out what needs immediate attention through their responses in surveys like this one. Michael Q. McShane and Colyn Ritter underscore the criticality of educating parents to prioritize educational freedom and choice for all children so they can thrive academically while also promoting social development that prepares them for successful lives and a stronger society.