The Mental Health Crisis Facing Young Adults
Mental health struggles among young adults are skyrocketing. Nationally, depression, anxiety, and suicidal behavior among children and teens has risen with more than 40% of youth reporting feeling persistently sad or hopeless. At Droste, an unprecedented number of young adults are reaching out for mental health support. The number of children and adolescents receiving therapy at Droste rose 625% from 2021-2022.
While there are many different reasons why mental health struggles among children and teens are increasing— the pandemic, social media, increasing pressure for exceptionalism, and decreasing independence, to name a few—the solution is widely seen as increased access to therapy, like the support we provide here at Droste.
Amanda’s Story
A few months ago, I spoke with a mom looking for therapy support for her teenaged daughter who was having panic attacks. Amanda experienced crippling anxiety when thinking about not wearing a mask and refused to go out with friends, spending days in her room instead. Amanda said:
“I just didn’t know what to do. I felt so nervous all the time; I didn’t know how to be a high schooler. It feels like everyone just expected me to be normal, to be like I was before [the pandemic].”
Amanda started working with a therapist at Droste virtually. Her therapist helped Amanda set small targets to work towards feeling comfortable without a mask and re-building interpersonal skills. One step in Amanda’s journey was coming to the Droste office for in-person therapy. Amanda described how therapy was helping her:
“My therapist helped me figure out how to tell my mom how I feel and also how to tell her when I just need space. She helped me figure out different ways to talk to my friends and pushes me to try things again. I know she is here for me.”
Amanda’s mom also shared with us what having Amanda in therapy has meant to her:
“Amanda changed, and I didn’t know how to help. I looked and looked for a therapist and nobody would call me back. I finally found Droste. I feel better knowing she is talking to someone who is helping her and I see the difference [therapy] has made.”
