The Crisis of Our Generation

Imagine sitting in class, heart racing, stomach in knots, just thinking about the next test or assignment. This isn’t just a bad school day - it’s reality. Approximately 20% of adolescents in NYC experience depression or anxiety at some point during their school years, and the numbers just keep on climbing. Whether it’s due to test grades, bad sleep schedules, overwhelming homework, or other challenges, school-related stress can take a serious toll.

The reason this is such a big issue is because of the intense academic pressure on students in New York. According to Aspire Therapy NYC,  “New York City offers incredible opportunities for students, but with that opportunity comes exceedingly high expectations. From specialized schools and advanced placement courses to college admission processes, modern students face extreme pressure to succeed.” This doesn’t just show how students feel stressed - it shows how constant the struggle is. I can relate to this. I’ve always pushed myself to excel in school; and that pressure negatively affected my work ethic, participation, and ordinary life. But my experience isn’t unique. Almost every teenager has experienced this. Working late into the night, last minute cramming, and comparing themselves to impossible standards is slowly becoming the new norm. 

However, academic pressure isn't the only contributing factor when it comes to anxiety in students. Screen time has also become a dangerous, yet overlooked, threat. Recent research shows that students who spend 2 or more hours of doomscrolling on their phones everyday are more likely to have anxiety symptoms, like irregular sleep routines, and reduced social support.  Especially in New York City, this problem is growing slowly. A recent study reported that 77% of high school students use their phones for 3 or more hours a day, NOT including homework. The relationship between screen time and anxiety isn’t just a statistic; it's a call for change. In a city where technology is just within reach, students are overwhelmed with pressure they can’t turn off.

Fortunately, there are many resources that can help students get through depression, such as therapy, both within schools and outside. The NYC Department of Education also has resources on their website for kids with mental health issues. Outside of school, professional counselling, and family support also help. But it only makes a change when students can reach these resources, and many cannot.

That’s why we, as a school and community, have to take action. Teachers and counselors can change a student’s life just by noticing the signs and responding with understanding instead of judgement. Schools can input mental health days, create safe spaces, and train staff to recognize when students are silently suffering. Students themselves can make a difference by hosting mental health weeks, checking in on friends and classmates, and breaking the cycle that has kept so many silent. Real change starts with the small things, like refusing to look the other way, supporting each other, and understanding struggles.

Anxiety among New York City students is becoming the crisis of our generation. It stretches into their school lives, affecting their potential, personality, and lifestyle. Mental health CANNOT be an afterthought, something to just brush past and ignore. Students, teachers, principals, mayors, and ordinary citizens - we can make a change. We have the power to make a difference and give hope. Today’s students will be our future doctors, scientists, and leaders, and they deserve the support that makes that possible.

The time for change is NOW. And it begins here. With us.