Society & Culture

Generation Anxious

Why Young People's Mental Health Has Deteriorated So Dramatically — and What We Can Do About It

Emma Hartley

Clinical psychologist and researcher at King's College London, specializing in adolescent mental health and the effects of digital technology on wellbeing.

March 5, 2026·10 min read

Generation Anxious

Rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among adolescents and young adults have increased dramatically over the past decade, particularly among girls. The causes are contested, but the consequences are undeniable. Understanding and addressing the youth mental health crisis is one of the most urgent challenges facing public health systems worldwide.

TOPICS

mental healthyouthsocial mediaanxietydepression

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