Instead, we considered the emotional turbulence in teens’ everyday lives, their familial and social dynamics, and the internal battles they fought when alone and vulnerable. At the time, I could scarcely fathom the actual magnitude of the issue.
The Startling Reality of Teen Depression and Anxiety
Our preliminary research, albeit non-scientific, suggested the problem was closer to 50% rather than 5%. Disbelieving, I wondered if I was oversimplifying the situation. Regrettably, I wasn’t. The CDC reported in 2020 that 7.9 million teens sought counseling services, and an alarming 42% admitted they might need to speak with a professional. Moreover, 29% of the surveyed teens indicated they were in “poor mental health”. As parents, we must recognize these concerning statistics and proactively address potential issues with our teens before they escalate.
Plea to Parents: Understand Your Teens
Just like any typical parent, I refused to accept that my children could be depressed or sad. I provided them with a comfortable suburban upbringing, access to a high-quality education system, and involvement in various sports and clubs. We discussed everything from college to our shared frustration as New York Jets fans, school, friends, and weekend events. However, I overlooked signs of depression and anxiety in my youngest son.
Recognizing the Signs of Depression in Teens
Despite his successes – finding a girlfriend, making the Dean’s List, playing ice hockey at the University of Montana – I didn’t see his silent suffering. He was gradually withdrawing from friends, achievements, and classes. There were no telltale signs of drug or alcohol abuse; it was his state of mind that led him to a path of self-destruction.
I regret not asking him the in-depth questions listed on our website, www.abrighterday.info, or providing him with the Parent and Teen Survival Toolkits available there. Tragically, as is often the case, we were the last to know. He ended his life in January 2015, a battle lost to depression, a loss that can never be reversed or forgotten.
I urge all parents to deeply understand their teens. This involves peeling away their layers of self-protection and grasping what truly motivates them. Often, it also means fostering a non-judgmental environment and seizing opportunities for meaningful dialogues.
Providing Access to Teen Mental Health Resources
One of my primary aims for A Brighter Day Charity is to ensure every teen in the United States has our Crisis Texting Hotline on their phone. A simple text saying “BRIGHTER” to 741741 allows any teen, anywhere, at any time, to engage in a chat for up to 40 minutes when they need help.
For teens who require more extensive support, we offer live Zoom counseling with licensed therapists. We understand that it can take up to 10 weeks to secure a live counseling session. Hence, through our website www.abrighterday.info, we facilitate these sessions in about a week and cover the cost for up to three months. We believe this is the average time a teen needs to navigate through their immediate crisis, and we don’t want families to have to choose between feeding their family and seeking help for their teen.
I encourage you to explore our website and share it with every family with a teenager within your circle. Please also share it with parent organizations, and of course, feel free to reach out to me anytime.
