A new national study found that many teenagers struggle with anxiety and never receive mental health treatment. Researchers also found that anxiety often occurs alongside depression and substance use.
The study appeared in JAMA Pediatrics and examined responses from 15,730 US adolescents ages 12 to 20. Researchers used data from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. It was the first year the survey included a validated self-report measure of anxiety symptoms for young people.
How Common Is Teen Anxiety?
Girls reported higher rates than boys with moderate anxiety affecting 13.4% of female adolescents compared with 6% of males. Severe symptoms affected 10.8% of females and 3.7% of males. Researchers found the highest rates among 16 and 17 year olds.
Anxiety Often Comes With Other Concerns
The study also found high rates of depression and substance use among teens with severe anxiety symptoms.
Among this group 65.8% met the criteria for a major depressive episode during the past year. Nearly half reported suicidal thoughts during that period. About 31% reported substance use in the past month and more than one in four met the criteria for a substance use disorder.
These findings show why a mental health evaluation should look beyond anxiety alone. The study authors recommend screening teens with significant anxiety symptoms for depression and suicide risk. They also recommend checking for substance use.
Many Teens Still Go Without Treatment
Despite the high rates of anxiety many adolescents never receive mental health care. Among teens with severe symptoms 41.2% received no mental health treatment during the previous year. The share rose to 48.3% among those with moderate symptoms.
Teens who received care most often attended outpatient therapy or took prescription medication. Each option reached roughly one third of adolescents with severe anxiety.
Access also varied across groups. Uninsured teens were less likely to receive treatment. Male adolescents and racial and ethnic minority youth also received care at lower rates than non Hispanic White adolescents. Teens in smaller metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas were somewhat more likely to receive treatment than those in large cities.
Finding the Right Treatment for Your Teen
Persistent anxiety can affect a teenager’s daily life even without a formal diagnosis. Parents who notice ongoing changes in mood or behavior should consider seeking a professional evaluation, rather than waiting for symptoms to worsen.
When anxiety occurs alongside depression or substance use treatment should address each concern. Ask providers whether they can treat co-occurring conditions and how they coordinate mental health care with addiction treatment.
Cost can also affect access. Check your insurance coverage early, and ask about out of pocket expenses and payment options before choosing a program.
Exploring Treatment Options
If your teenager shows signs of anxiety or substance use a professional evaluation can help you understand what kind of support they need. Rehab.com lists treatment centers that offer services for adolescents including outpatient therapy and residential programs for young people with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.
Families can compare programs by location. They can also compare treatment specialty and payment options. Confirm that a center accepts your insurance, and make it sure provides care suited to your teenager’s needs. Call
800-985-8516
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to speak with a treatment advisor about available options.
