These days, the scariest things haunting our kids don’t come from ghost stories or horror movies. They hide behind screens, preying on feelings of insecurity, isolation and emotional distress. And unlike Halloween, the threats to youth mental health are far from seasonal.
A Frightening Trend: Rising Youth Mental Health Crises
Mental health challenges among adolescents are rising. In 2023, four in ten high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. These emotions affect academic performance, physical health, relationships and more. Poor mental health is also linked with increased risks of substance use, exposure to violence and unsafe sexual behaviors that can lead to sexually transmitted infections/diseases.
Mirror, Mirror, on the Phone
Social media can be a tool for connection, but in many cases, it is becoming a trap. Between doom scrolling, algorithm rabbit holes and social media pressure, today’s youth are navigating a digital world that can quietly chip away at their mental well-being. Although moderate screen time may not be inherently harmful, it becomes dangerous when it completely replaces face-to-face connection, triggers anxiety, or exposes children to bullying and toxic ideas. Nearly 95% of teens ages 13-17 use social media, with one-third reportedly using it almost constantly. Teens average over three hours daily on social platforms, at times in environments that distort reality, reinforce negative self-comparisons and amplify harmful messages.
Youth who spend more than three hours per day on social media are twice as likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. When asked about the impact social media had on their body image, 46% of teens said it made them feel worse.
Connection is the Antidote
Despite chilling statistics, young people are resilient. Research shows that strategies improving mental health also reduce risks like violence and substance use. When youth feel connected to school, their peers, family and community, they gain support to face life’s challenges and feel less alone. But it takes a village.
What CareFirst Is Doing
In 2024, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) partnered with Children’s National Hospital to address the youth mental health crisis highlighted in the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2021 advisory. Together, we launched a webinar series focused on adolescent mental health and the role of parents and caregivers. View the webinars here.
CareFirst also invests in digital tools that help expand access to care. In a recent blog post, we highlighted technology that helps families access behavioral health support when they need it most. We also support policy solutions to make these tools more affordable and widely available.
Beyond digital tools, we’re increasing access to behavioral health services across the Mid-Atlantic region. Learn more about our partnerships with community organizations that support at-risk youth and strengthen the behavioral health workforce.
What Families Can Do
Families play a vital role in supporting youth mental health. Stay connected, talk openly, spend quality time together and stay involved with school life. Model healthy technology habits—set boundaries around screen time, discuss online content and empower kids to make safe choices. Report cyberbullying or abuse when it happens.
When families stay engaged, adolescents are better equipped to manage stress, build confidence, and thrive both online and offline.
Policy with Teeth: What Policymakers Can Do
Families can’t do it alone. Policymakers must act to make online spaces safer for youth. That means setting age-appropriate safety standards, strengthening data privacy laws and requiring transparency from technology companies about how their platforms impact youth. It also means supporting digital literacy in schools and funding research to better understand social media’s impact.
Navigating youth mental health can feel like wandering through a corn maze without a map. There’s no magic spell or one-size-fits-all solution—but with compassionate support, smart policies and communities that show up for one another, we can help young people find their way through.