It’s no secret that teen anxiety is on the rise, part of the teen mental health crisis causing concern across the country. And while some mental health issues and symptoms, like loneliness, have been slowly rising for decades, anxiety in particular saw a dramatic spike during the pandemic. Research from 2021 found that teen anxiety doubled during the height of COVID-19, with 1 in 5 teens reporting elevated anxiety symptoms, and it’s remained high ever since. Data released in the 2024 National Survey of Children’s Health found that 16.1 percent of teens (ages 12-17) were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in 2023, representing a 61 percent increase since 2016.
“During and since the pandemic, there has absolutely been an increase in anxiety among teens,” Samantha Quigneaux, LMFT, the national director of family therapy services at Newport Healthcare, tells SheKnows. She’s seen it firsthand in her own work, where teens have been expressing feelings of “overwhelm, stress, confusion, fear, and/or hopelessness.” Dr. Rostilav Ignatov, the chief medical officer at The Haven Detox, says he’s seen the same trend. “The clinical practice that I observe has experienced a notable rise in adolescents with anxiety disorders, most of which pertain to their academic achievements, self-imposed social withdrawal, and apprehensions about what lies ahead,” he tells SheKnows.
When you have a teen in your own home, the daunting stats on mental health become personal. We’re all asking the same questions: why are our teens so anxious? What red flags should we be looking for? And, as parents, how can we help?
What’s Fueling the Spike in Teen Anxiety?
It’s no wonder that the pandemic was so hard on teens — there’s not much in their lives that wasn’t thrown into flux. “Disruption of daily routines, social isolation and distancing, academic pressures and changes in methods of learning, uncertainty about the future”: Quigneaux lists all of these as factors that “strongly contributed to heightened stress and anxiety levels” among teens. “Those ‘unprecedented times’ also left our youth with disrupted critical social and emotional learning environments,” she explains. “This has led to them having to navigate their teen years and young adulthood with [fewer] skills and emotional resources in our ever-changing world.”
Beyond that is simply the enormous amount of pressure that teens today are living with. “There’s tremendous pressure for teenagers to perform to the best of their ability in school, get involved in extracurricular activities, and have the perfect social media presence,” Dr. Ignatov explains.
And social media alone can do a number on teens’ mental health. “Social media creates an increased awareness of what is going on in the world,” Janel Coleman, a licensed psychotherapist at Madison Square Psychotherapy, tells SheKnows. “People are bombarded with difficult news, unrealistic appearances, and highlight reels throughout the day.” There’s a feeling of inescapability when it comes to the stressful news cycle and world that teens are growing up in, plus a sense of “relentless competition and the anxiety of being ‘outdone,'” Dr. Ignatov says.
Teen Anxiety Symptoms to Look Out For
The experts we spoke to agreed that one sign of anxiety (or other mental health issues) is major changes in your teen’s habits or behaviors. “Teens are known to be emotional and moody, but it is important to be aware of significant shifts in behaviors,” Coleman says. “This can look like avoidance of school work or social events with friends, increased anger or irritability, substance use, and consistent reporting of physical health issues, like stomachaches and headaches.” According to our experts, other symptoms of anxiety in teens may include:
Restlessness
Anxious dread
Lack of concentration
Social withdrawal
School avoidance
Excessive worrying
Other physical health symptoms, like fatigue and difficulty sleeping
How to Help a Teen With Anxiety
Helping a teen with anxiety starts with providing a supportive environment and validating your teen’s feelings and emotions, Quigneaux says. “Being an emotionally safe space is critical to support a teen.” That means having check-ins with your teen, Coleman adds, to talk about “what is creating anxiety or stress in their lives.” Of course, they might not always be up for talking about their emotions with their parents — and that’s OK. This is about showing you’re there for them if and when they ever need to talk. Plus, it gives you a window (no matter how small) into their lives.
“While it is developmentally appropriate for teens to give more attention to their peers,” Coleman confirms, “maintaining parental connections can allow for awareness of those behavioral shifts and when extra support might be needed.” She recommends having these check-ins during shared meals or family activities “in a way that acknowledges the emotional reality of the teen and other family members.” We also have more tips for checking in with your teen about mental health (and actually getting somewhere) if you need them.
You can also help by encouraging and modeling healthy habits and emotional regulation skills. These can include things like exercise, mindfulness, journaling, confiding in loved ones, or seeking support from a mental health professional — which all of our experts recommended if your teens symptoms aren’t improving. “It is important to seek professional assistance as early intervention makes it easier to manage anxiety in the long run,” Dr. Ignatov explains.
Tackling anxiety is a challenge at any age, but it’s especially tough for teens in today’s chaotic, stressful world. Helping your teen manage their mental health starts by opening up the conversation — even if it might feel awkward at first! — and making sure your teen knows they have you to lean on and confide in, no matter what they’re going through.
Before you go, check out our favorite mental health apps:
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