US Teens Feel Down, But the Adults Aren’t All Right Either
America's mental health crisis can’t simply be blamed on social media and Covid-19.
The Americans are not alright.
Photographer: Olivier Douliery/AFP/Getty Images
If no one in your circle of family and friends is mentally ill, count yourself lucky — or maybe you’re just deluding yourself. In my intimate social network, I can think of at least six cases.
I’m not talking just about relatives or friends or the children of friends who say they are depressed. I’m talking about medically diagnosed mental illness requiring treatment. Three cases of chronic addiction. Two cases of severe eating disorder. One case of attempted suicide. And those are just the ones I know about. I’m also aware of two overdose deaths in my wider social circle. These may or may not have been associated with psychological problems.