Awareness Shapes Perception

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equality Act of 2008 expanded access to mental health care for teens, alongside the 2013 DSM update that relaxed diagnostic criteria. During this period, there was a significant increase in teens seeking mental health support due to a heightened focus on their needs. Although statistics indicate that teens are reporting feelings of depression and anxiety more frequently, this surge may reflect greater awareness and willingness to discuss mental health issues rather than an actual worsening of mental health among teens compared to previous generations. The normalization of these discussions has shifted how young people articulate their mental health struggles.