#Youthmentalhealth

A newly released U.S. survey of Generation Z finds that loneliness is a widespread signal of strain on young people’s mental health, with a striking split in experiences: while more than half of respondents report overall good or better mental health, a large share say loneliness still drains their daily lives and has tangible effects on school, work, and relationships. The study, conducted by Hopelab and Data for Progress and shared with Axios, reveals that loneliness and family problems are among the top challenges weighing on young people today, even as many also describe resilience and hope for the future. For Thai readers, the findings resonate with ongoing conversations about youth mental health at home, in schools, and across communities where family bonds, social expectations, and the pressures of rapid digital life shape daily life. The message from researchers is clear: mental health is not a single story, and responses must be nuanced, equitable, and embedded within everyday Thai contexts.

A US opinion piece warns against asking children if they are depressed.
The article reacts to a new Illinois law mandating annual mental-health screening in public schools. (Meridian Magazine)

The debate has clear lessons for Thai educators and health officials.
Thailand faces rising youth mental-health concerns and evolving school supports. (WHO Thailand)

Illinois recently passed a law to expand school mental-health screenings.
The law plans annual screening for students in grades three through twelve by 2027. (Gov. Pritzker press release)

The Illinois Controversy That Could Shape Thailand’s Future

A fierce debate erupts across American classrooms. Should schools routinely ask every child if they feel depressed? Illinois just mandated exactly that—sparking passionate arguments that reach far beyond Chicago suburbs into the heart of how Thai educators approach student wellbeing.

The controversy began when an opinion writer at Meridian Magazine issued a stark warning to parents. Stop asking children about depression, she urged. Her alarm centers on Illinois’ groundbreaking law requiring annual mental health screenings for all public school students from third grade through high school by 2027.

A heated debate in the United States over universal mental health screening in schools raises questions for Thailand. Illinois recently enacted a law requiring annual mental health assessments for public school students from third grade through high school by 2027. The discussion has sparked strong opinions about how best to support student wellbeing, a topic Thai educators are watching closely.

In the United States, critics warn that routine questions about depression might pathologize normal childhood feelings. Supporters argue that early identification helps at‑risk students access help sooner. In Thailand, educators see both potential benefits and cultural challenges in any national screening effort. The World Health Organization has noted rising mental health concerns among Thai youth, particularly in urban areas under academic pressure. Thai families often blend traditional values, Buddhist perspectives, and modern psychology when addressing emotional wellbeing.

A major new study of secondary schools in England finds that banning smartphones on school grounds or at break times does not, by itself, produce better grades, healthier sleep or improved mental wellbeing among pupils — a result that shifts the debate from banning devices to reducing total screen time and reshaping how young people use digital technology. Researchers compared student outcomes across schools with different phone rules and found that the single strongest predictor of worse academic and health measures was the amount of time pupils spent on smartphones and social media, rather than whether schools imposed on-site bans. The finding matters for Thai educators and parents because it suggests policy and cultural interventions beyond simple exclusion are needed to protect learning, mental health and social development in a country where young people are highly connected.

A large study of secondary schools in England shows that banning smartphones on school grounds or at break times alone does not automatically boost grades, sleep quality, or mental wellbeing. The findings shift the focus from device bans to reducing total screen time and reshaping how young people use digital technology. Researchers compared outcomes across schools with varying phone rules and found that the strongest predictor of poorer academic and health metrics was the amount of time students spent on smartphones and social media, not whether schools restricted devices. This matters for Thai educators and parents, highlighting the need for policy and cultural approaches beyond exclusion to safeguard learning, mental health, and social development in a highly connected youth culture.

As Princeton University intensifies its efforts to help students in mental health crises, questions remain about whether even the most well-resourced campuses can fully meet the needs of struggling youth. The university’s attempts to strike a balance between academic rigor and mental well-being echo a much broader challenge, one that is playing out across the United States and around the globe as young people face rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide.

A leading university grapples with mental health support for its students, highlighting how even well-resourced campuses struggle to meet rising needs. The focus is on balancing rigorous academics with well-being, a challenge echoed across Thailand and beyond.

Young people around the world face increasing anxiety, depression, and suicide risk. Campuses in the United States are confronting what health authorities describe as an ongoing youth mental health crisis. Princeton University, with its strong resources and historical culture of care, offers a revealing case study in how universities respond to pressure and trauma.

A new wave of research and expert insight is putting the spotlight on parental influence as a key factor in raising confident, resilient children in today’s climate of cultural confusion over gender and identity. Recent commentary by an educational psychologist and child development expert, featured in a July 2025 WORLD Radio podcast, underscores that parents play a far greater role than often believed in helping their children navigate questions about identity, belonging, and self-worth, even as external voices grow louder and more complex (wng.org).

Recent research and expert insights place parents at the heart of raising confident, resilient children amid evolving conversations about gender and identity. A July 2025 World Radio podcast features an educational psychologist and child development expert who argues that parental guidance remains a stronger influence than many realize, helping kids navigate identity, belonging, and self-worth as external voices grow louder. In Thai families, navigating discussions of gender and self-concept can be challenging. Traditional family roles meet global pop culture, and young people spend more time online than ever. Experts offer practical frameworks to foster inner confidence and emotional health for Thai children.

A surge of mental health content on TikTok is spreading misleading tips and confusing claims. New research highlighted by The Guardian shows videos range from trivializing serious conditions to promoting unproven treatments. Experts warn this trend fuels stigma and risky self-diagnosis, a particularly worrying development for Thai youth who spend大量 time on the platform.

Mental health has become a front-line issue in Thailand. The Covid-19 era intensified stress and isolation for young people and working adults. TikTok ranks among the most downloaded apps in Thailand, with millions turning to it for support and information. Data from Thailand’s Mental Health Department indicates rising cases of depression and anxiety since 2020, and digital platforms are increasingly a primary health resource for many young adults. The Bangkok Post notes these trends and underscores the need for accurate information in a country where health literacy varies by region and access remains uneven.

The viral popularity of mental health content on TikTok has led to a surge in misleading advice and misconceptions, with new research highlighted by The Guardian revealing that misinformation ranges from trivializing serious conditions to promoting unproven treatments. Experts warn that this trend not only stokes confusion but also risks worsening stigma and driving unsafe self-diagnosis—an especially troubling development for young Thais heavily active on the platform.

Mental health issues have become a frontline concern in Thai society, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic intensified stress and isolation among youth and working adults. With TikTok ranking among the most downloaded apps in Thailand and millions of Thai users turning to the platform for support and information, the spread of health misinformation is a pressing national challenge. According to Mental Health Department statistics, Thailand saw significant increases in reported cases of depression and anxiety since 2020, and digital platforms are now a primary health resource for many young adults (Bangkok Post).

A striking new study has revealed that nearly a third of college students in the United States are planning to drop out of university, citing emotional stress and mental health challenges as key factors. This finding, reported in El Adelantado, underscores the growing mental health crisis facing young people in higher education—a trend with far-reaching implications, including for students and educators in Thailand.

This surge in student stress has come to the forefront as college life post-pandemic presents fresh hurdles, from academic pressures and financial worries to pervasive feelings of isolation. For Thai readers, these findings mirror familiar concerns in local universities, where recent surveys suggest that emotional wellbeing is an increasing challenge for both faculty and students. As societies in both the U.S. and Thailand compete in a globally demanding education landscape, the mental health toll is increasingly hard to ignore.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital—recognized across the US for its leadership in pediatric health—has announced a major rebranding and expansion of its high-profile children’s mental health program. The “On Our Sleeves” initiative, which since 2018 has distributed free educational resources to over 15 million Americans, will now move forward as The Kids Mental Health Foundation, signaling a deepened mission to address the growing mental health crisis among youth nationwide (source).

This change comes at a pivotal moment for parents, educators, and health professionals. The US Surgeon General and other health authorities have described children’s mental health as a “national crisis.” In Thailand, as in the US, teachers and families report rising anxieties about the long-term effects of academic stress, social media, and the lingering aftermath of COVID-19 on youth wellbeing—a concern very much echoed in the recent US survey conducted by The Kids Mental Health Foundation, where 70% of nearly 540 parents said they are worried about their children’s mental health, and almost 40% said they are “very concerned” (source).

An intensifying mental health crisis among American youth has pushed hundreds of desperate parents to an agonizing decision: relinquishing custody of their own children to the state, simply to obtain the urgent, specialized mental health care unavailable to them otherwise. Recent stories brought to light by USA TODAY, including the harrowing experience of Nina Richtman in Iowa, highlight not only immense personal suffering but also systemic gaps in health and social support across the United States, reverberating with important lessons for Thai families, policymakers, and healthcare providers alike (USA TODAY 2025).

Depression has reached record highs in the United States, with new research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealing a stark increase in prevalence and persistent disparities in access to treatment. Drawing data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, the recent survey—conducted between August 2021 and August 2023—sheds light on both the growing scale of the problem and the obstacles many face in seeking help. As similar trends emerge in Thailand and across Asia, the findings carry important lessons for the Kingdom and the broader region amidst evolving mental health challenges.

A bold expansion of Ohio’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) brings immediate mental health support to young people in crisis everywhere in the state. Governor Mike DeWine announced the statewide rollout at Hopewell Elementary School, stressing the urgency of delivering swift help to children and adolescents in distress. He described MRSS as a crucial tool for rapid, effective crisis response that protects and empowers youth.

MRSS has already been piloted in fifty counties and sends trained clinicians to the crisis site—whether at home, school, or a playground—within 60 minutes of a call to Ohio’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline. The approach provides crisis stabilization, on-site counseling, and the creation of a care plan in coordination with the youth’s support network. Hopewell Elementary’s principal, Susann Wittig, recalled a recent incident where clinicians arrived within the hour and collaborated with the student, family, and school to outline services and ongoing care. The expansion is supported by a coalition of twelve service providers across Ohio to ensure rapid coverage statewide.

In a bold move to address the growing mental health needs among young people, Ohio has announced the statewide expansion of its Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program, bringing rapid, on-the-ground mental health support to youth in crisis across all 88 counties. Governor Mike DeWine made the announcement at Hopewell Elementary School in Dublin City Schools, highlighting the urgency of providing immediate help to children and adolescents experiencing mental, emotional, or behavioral distress. “MRSS is one of the most important tools we have at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively when a child is experiencing a crisis,” Governor DeWine explained, underscoring the initiative’s potential to protect and empower the state’s youth population (10tv.com).

A new CDC assessment shows depression has surged in the United States, with widening gaps in access to care. The analysis, based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics gathered between August 2021 and August 2023, highlights both the scale of the problem and the hurdles people face when seeking help. As similar trends emerge in Thailand and across Asia, the findings offer timely insights for the Kingdom and the region.

A growing crisis in youth mental health in the United States has driven hundreds of parents to make an agonizing choice: surrender custody to the state in hopes of securing urgent, specialized care their families cannot access otherwise. National reporting highlights cases like Nina Richtman’s in Iowa, revealing deep systemic gaps in health, social support, and child welfare that resonate with Thai families, policymakers, and healthcare providers seeking better outcomes at home.

A new wave of research highlights a troubling connection between high social media use and the amplification of delusional thinking, raising fresh concerns about the impact of online platforms on mental health. The phenomenon, described as “Delusion Amplification by Social Media,” points to a worrying trend: while digital tools connect millions, they may also embolden certain mental health disorders, like narcissism, paranoia, and body dysmorphia, particularly among vulnerable users (The Conversation, PsyPost).

A growing body of research links heavy social media use with amplified delusional thinking, raising new questions about how online platforms affect mental well-being in Thailand. Researchers describe a pattern called Delusion Amplification by Social Media, where digital environments can intensify certain mental health symptoms rather than alleviate them.

Social media is now a staple in Thai life, from Bangkok schools to provincial cafes. People use these platforms to connect, promote ideas, and run businesses. Yet concerns about their darker effects grow as online engagement rises. A comprehensive study published in 2025 analyzed hundreds of articles and found that high social media use is associated with stronger tendencies toward narcissism, paranoia, and body image concerns. These insights are relevant for Thai educators, clinicians, and policymakers seeking to protect vulnerable users.

A personal post by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin offering tips to cope with depression has sparked conversations about mental health across the globe, including among Thai audiences. While on tour in Hong Kong, Martin shared practical strategies that have helped him manage his own struggles, hoping to inspire fans to seek support and adopt healthier routines. In Thailand, where depression is rising and stigma remains a barrier, his openness helps normalize conversations about mental well-being.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin recently opened up about his own struggles with depression and took to Instagram to share a series of personal tips aimed at helping others facing similar challenges. The singer, who was on tour in Hong Kong at the time, spoke candidly about the importance of mental health and shared some practical techniques that have been beneficial to his own wellbeing, hoping his experience might offer comfort and inspiration to fans worldwide, including in Thailand, where the prevalence of depression is a growing health concern (NME).