Although mental illnesses can affect both males AND females, teenage girls are at a greater risk than teenage boys. According to the Child Mind Institute, “...girls are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mood disorder as boys” during their mid-adolescent years. The National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2009-2014) reported 36.1% of girls with depression compared to 13.6% for boys. The journal “Translational Psychiatry” also published a study in May 2017 showing that one-third of teenage girls in the U.S. experience their first onset of depression. This is about three times the rate for boys.
But WHY is there such a disparity and where does it stem from? It is possible that it stems from the idea of girls maturing quicker than boys when it comes to emotional regulation. Hormone fluctuations also play a major part. However, there are many more factors still being studied.
In a generation where social media use is part of our daily routines, it has both positively and negatively affected the mental health of many. Specifically talking about how it has NEGATIVELY affected teenage girls, a 2019 cross-sectional study on teen suicide rates from 1975 to 2016 in JAMA Network Open External suggests that suicide attempts may be associated with stress from social media. As girls use social media more frequently, they are more likely to experience cyberbullying. When this isn’t addressed properly, it can lead to self harm and feelings of hopelessness. Therefore, it is important to recognize the symptoms of such mental illnesses and seek help immediately.
Symptoms of Anxiety:
restlessness
fatigueness
difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
irritability
muscle tension
sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
Symptoms of Depression:
Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feeling
Feelings of hopelessness
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
Decreased energy and fatigueness
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Low appetite and weight loss or overeating and weight gain
Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts
Restlessness, irritability
Statistics:
Over ⅔ antidepressants prescribed to teenagers are for girls
Girls are 5 times more likely to deliberately self-harm themselves
Over 90% of teenager admitted in the hospital for eating disorders are girls
Girls are twice as likely to develop mood disorders than boys
Nearly ¼ of teenage girls display depressive symptoms
Nearly 36.1% of teen girls reported depression in a survey conducted between 2009 to 2014
71% of girls are more stressed out then boys
Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescent girls
Resources Teenage Girls can implement:
This website discusses a plethora of issues girls face that can impact their mental health. The “Your Feelings” section discusses girls' mental health, how to get help, and how to talk to parents.
This non-profit organization with the help of trained professionals, helps guide girls to be strong, smart, and bold. They discuss mental health, bullying/harassment, and many other topics which will lead these young women to live a healthy lifestyle.
Sad Girls Club is an online community that goes above and beyond in creating a safe space for girls, particularly for people of color, they even hold real life meetings.
This article discusses various mental health problems women face, and includes additional sources to get help.
To further educate yourself:
This report discusses statistics for why depression is higher in girls, and why depression is a bigger issue for girls than for boys.
This article discusses numerous mental health disorders that teenage girls face, and what leads them to face this illness along with how to detect it. The article also includes how to get help for anxiety and depression for teenagers.
The study shows why depression is a bigger issue for women than men, as it compares data for both Canada and the United States. Along with the statistics, this article discusses environmental factors and biological factors that make women more likely to face this mental health disorder.
Sources:
“Girls and Teens.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA,
adaa.org/find-help-for/women/mental-health-in-young-girls-and-teens.
Joan Luby, MD. “Suicide Rates in US Girls and the Equalization of Sex Disparity in
Suicide.” JAMA Network Open, American Medical Association, 17 May 2019,
jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2733419.
Ron J. Steingard, MD. “Mood Disorders and Teenage Girls.” Child Mind Institute, 17 July
2020, childmind.org/article/mood-disorders-and-teenage-girls/.
“Why Teen Girls Are at Such a High Risk for Depression.” U.S. News & World Report,
health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2017-08-22/why-teen-
girls-are-at-such-a-high-risk-for-depression.