A poll conducted by Ipsos on behalf of NAMI finds that most teens are comfortable talking about mental health, but often don’t start the conversation. They also want schools to play a big role in their mental health, and they trust the information they get there, but feel like schools are not doing enough.
Key Findings:
- 64% feel the world is more stressful now than when parents were their age
- About 1 in 6 report experiencing negative emotions all the time or often
- Girls more likely to say they are anxious or stressed out often or all the time
- 1 in 4 have been diagnosed with a mental health condition
- 28% report having received mental health treatment
- Boys more likely to say they don’t need mental health treatment right now
- 65% say they feel comfortable talking about their mental health with those who are closest to them. But:
- Only 48% talk regularly with parents about their mental health and only 22% talk regularly with friends
- Only 34% seek mental health information from parents, 18% from friends, 8% from the internet, 7% from teachers or trusted adults outside their family, and 6% from social media.
- Among those who have sought information about mental health, 95% trust their parents and 78% trust their friends
- Teens want schools to play a big role in their mental health, and they trust the information they get there
- 2 in 3 agree schools should teach about what mental health is, including where and how to seek treatment
- 4 in 5 who seek mental health information from teachers say they trust their teachers and other adults at their school to provide it
- 67% think schools should offer days off for mental health
- Teens don’t think their schools are doing enough
- 56% say their school thinks that mental health matters
- 40% say their school has specific programs or resources to support mental health
This poll was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of NAMI between July 15–Aug. 1, 2022, using the KnowledgePanel®. It is based on a representative sample of 1,015 U.S. teens (ages 12–17) recruited through their parents. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.
Infographic:
Infographic: Poll of Teen Mental Health from Teens Themselves
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