Why Children and Teens Are More Anxious, Depressed, and Stressed Than Ever — And How Parents, Schools, and Therapy Can Help
Across the country, children and teenagers are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress than ever before. As a St. Louis therapist at Pearlman & Associates, I see this every day in our work with kids, teens, and families. Many parents feel confused or overwhelmed. Schools are trying to support students while navigating increasing behavioral and emotional challenges. And young people often feel pressured, misunderstood, or unsure how to cope in healthy ways.
This rise in youth mental health concerns is well-documented by organizations like the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health
) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth)
. The good news is that there are effective strategies, supports, and therapeutic tools that can help kids feel better and regain confidence.
Below is a deeper look at why today’s children struggle, what parents and schools can do, and how therapy and healthy coping skills can make a major difference.
Why Children and Teens Are More Anxious and Depressed Today
There is no single reason—rather, it is a combination of cultural, social, biological, and environmental factors.
Sites like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat create a world where kids constantly compare themselves to others. Organizations like the Child Mind Institute (https://childmind.org/topics-a-z/
) highlight how social media impacts body image, self-worth, and mood. Kids feel pressure to be perfect, look perfect, and perform perfectly. Even emotionally healthy children can develop anxiety, insecurity, and depression from the comparison trap.
Many students believe their future success depends on their grades, test scores, and achievements. This leads to chronic worry, burnout, and performance anxiety. Teens frequently tell me in therapy that they feel “never good enough” no matter how hard they try.
Kids rarely get quiet, calm, unstructured time. Screens, activities, social media, homework, and constant notifications keep the brain “on” at all times. Without pauses and rest, anxiety becomes the default state.
Even though daily life has moved forward, emotional development was disrupted. Many students still struggle with social skills, confidence, separation anxiety, and school avoidance.
Children absorb the stress of the world around them. When families experience financial strain, work pressure, illness, or emotional overload, kids often internalize that stress—even if adults think they’re shielding them.
Kids spend less time building face-to-face social skills. Without opportunities to practice communication, conflict resolution, and reading social cues, social anxiety becomes more common.
Vaping, alcohol, marijuana, overeating, and digital addictions provide fast emotional escape—but ultimately make anxiety, depression, and mood regulation worse. Research from SAMHSA (https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health
) reinforces this pattern across youth populations.
What Parents Can Do to Help Their Child or Teen
Parents have more influence than they realize. You don’t need to fix every problem—your presence, empathy, and guidance are already powerful.
Ask open questions like:
Point them toward reliable emotional education resources like the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_Youth/Facts_for_Families.aspx
).
Show your child what healthy coping looks like by:
Kids learn emotional regulation from watching adults.
Not as punishment—but as protection.
Use structured routines, phone-free bedtime, and monitored accounts. The American Psychological Association offers helpful guidance: https://www.apa.org/topics/child-development/stress
.
Kids feel calmer when life feels consistent. Morning, after-school, and bedtime routines provide emotional safety.
Healthy coping:
Unhealthy coping:
Resources like HealthyChildren.org (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Pages/Building-Resilience.aspx
) offer parent-friendly strategies.
Avoid minimizing feelings (“You’re fine,” “It’s not a big deal”).
Use validation instead:
Validation builds trust and encourages openness.
Children often open up more to a neutral therapist than to a parent. Therapy teaches real-world emotional and behavioral skills that last a lifetime.
For local support, parents can learn more about child therapy in St. Louis here:
https://stlmentalhealth.com/child-teen-therapy/
How Schools Can Support Anxious and Struggling Students
Schools play a major role in helping students feel safe, understood, and capable.
Classrooms that integrate coping skills, mindfulness, and emotional awareness help students build lifelong tools. The CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth
) strongly supports school-based mental health programs.
Kids who have even one safe adult at school experience better emotional outcomes.
Clear routines and structures reduce anxiety and behavioral issues.
Instead of reacting with punishment, trauma-informed schools respond with:
More about trauma-informed support:
https://stlmentalhealth.com/trauma-therapy/
School-based counseling combined with community therapy provides comprehensive support.
The Benefits of Therapy and Counseling for Children & Teens
Therapy helps kids understand their emotions, learn coping strategies, and develop confidence. At Pearlman & Associates, therapy often includes:
Therapy offers non-judgmental support where kids can share honestly.
Kids learn how stress, anxiety, and the amygdala affect thoughts and behavior.
More about anxiety therapy:
https://stlmentalhealth.com/anxiety-therapy/
Therapists teach grounding techniques, communication skills, mindfulness, and problem-solving.
Therapy often strengthens relationships at home.
Family counseling info:
https://stlmentalhealth.com/family-counseling/
Early intervention protects a child’s emotional future.
If Your Child Is Struggling, We Are Here to Help
Pearlman & Associates – St. Louis Mental Health & Counseling
📍 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, Creve Coeur, MO 63141
📞 314-942-1147
🌐 https://stlmentalhealth.com
Whether your child is dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, or stress, our team—led by Dr. Bryan Pearlman—provides warm, effective, evidence-based support to help them thrive.
Additional Trusted Resources
NIMH – Child & Adolescent Mental Health
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/child-and-adolescent-mental-health
CDC – Children’s Mental Health
https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth
Child Mind Institute
https://childmind.org/topics-a-z/
SAMHSA – Youth Mental Health Resources
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health
NAMI – Teens & Young Adults
