Columbia Spotlight

Over the past two weeks, many news organizations have been reporting about the CDC report which revealed the plight of teenage girls and their mental health. According to the report , "nearly 3 in 5 (57%) U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021—double that of boys, representing a nearly 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade." The report also revealed that "Adolescent girls reported high rates of sadness, suicidal thoughts, and sexual violence, as did teenagers who identified as gay or bisexual." The New York Times has a great report in which it suggested that school engagement is a key factor in stemming this tide. According to the article, "Young people who feel connected in middle school and high school 20 years later have better mental health, are less likely to be perpetrators or victims of violence, are less likely to use substances and are less likely to attempt suicide.”  The Washington Post had a great arti