Teen Anxiety Is Common, and Often Goes Untreated
Most parents expect some worry during the teenage years: a big exam, a new school, a friendship that suddenly feels uncertain. A study published in October in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that for a large number of young people, anxiety reaches well beyond those ordinary moments, and that many of them are not getting help.
What the researchers found
The research team, led by Dr. Tanner J. Bommersbach, drew on the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which is designed to represent the country as a whole. Their analysis included 15,730 young people between the ages of 12 and 20, who answered the GAD-7, a seven-question screening questionnaire about anxious feelings.
According to the study, 16.8 percent of these teens reported moderate or severe anxiety symptoms, or roughly one in six. Another 23.7 percent reported mild symptoms. The researchers also found clear differences between groups: severe symptoms were reported by 10.8 percent of female adolescents compared with 3.7 percent of male adolescents, and moderate symptoms by 13.4 percent of females compared with 6.0 percent of males.
Anxiety rarely arrived alone. Among teens with severe symptoms, the study reports that 65.8 percent had experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, 48.2 percent had thoughts of suicide in the past year, and 31.0 percent reported substance use in the past month.
Many teens are not getting care
The finding about treatment may be the most important one. The study found that 41.2 percent of adolescents with severe anxiety symptoms, and 48.3 percent of those with moderate symptoms, had received no mental health treatment at all during the previous year. In the researchers' analysis, treatment was less likely among male adolescents, among racial and ethnic minoritized adolescents, and among adolescents without health insurance. The authors call for better early identification and easier access to evidence-based care.
It helps to keep in mind what a study like this can and cannot tell us. It is a snapshot taken at one point in time, so it describes how common anxiety symptoms are rather than what causes them. The GAD-7 is also a screening tool, not a diagnosis. A high score is a reason for a closer look, which is what a careful evaluation provides.
When worry becomes more than stress
Everyday nervousness tends to rise and fall with the situation and to ease once the moment passes. Anxiety that deserves attention is usually more persistent, and it begins to shape a young person's choices and routines. Some signs parents and caregivers may notice include:
- Worry that seems constant or out of proportion to what is happening
- Avoiding school, activities, friends, or situations they used to handle
- Trouble sleeping, frequent headaches or stomachaches, or feeling tense and on edge
- Irritability, difficulty concentrating, or a sudden drop in grades
- Needing a great deal of reassurance before ordinary tasks
If you notice patterns like these, a calm, open conversation is a good place to start. Asking what has felt hard lately, and listening without rushing to fix it, can help a teen feel understood. A pediatrician, family doctor, or school counselor can also be a helpful first step, and a brief screening questionnaire can show whether a fuller assessment makes sense.
Support can start with one conversation
Anxiety is a common concern, and there are well-established ways to address it. In our practice, we work with clients of all ages, including children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Our primary approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps a person understand how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors affect one another and build practical skills for managing worry. We adapt it to each person with cultural awareness, and treatment typically involves weekly sessions over roughly 8 to 16 weeks. We do not offer a quick fix; we work alongside each client and family toward coping skills that last. When the picture is less clear, for example when anxiety overlaps with depression or attention concerns, a careful assessment can bring diagnostic clarity. We see clients in person at our Flagstaff office and through secure telehealth.
If a young person is having thoughts of suicide or is in emotional distress, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, any time of day or night. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
If you are concerned about a teen in your life, or you are a young person who recognizes yourself in these findings, you do not have to sort it out alone. You can read more about how we approach anxiety, learn about our work with young adults, or contact our office with any questions.
Source: Estimates of Anxiety Symptoms Among US Adolescents, JAMA Pediatrics, October 12, 2026.
This post shares general information and is not a substitute for professional care.