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Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Health
- Miami Herald
The Teen Mom is Dying Out
While the birth rate has declined in general over the last 50 years, mothers aged between 15 and 19 have seen the most consistently steep fall. In 1975, there were 599,926 teen births in America – more than double the teen pregnancies recorded in 2024 (136,376), according to the U.N. Population Division. Among the teen births that do take place today, "the vast majority occur among folks who are 18 or 19," said Elizabeth Wildsmith, a family demographer and sociologist at Child Trends, a nonpartisan research organization. "Teen births have declined dramatically over the past several decades," she told Newsweek, citing a lower level of sexual activity among teenagers, a higher level of contraceptive use and wider social changes. "No easy answers," said Claire Brindis, co-director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Health National Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco. "No one factor can really explain the reductions," she told Newsweek, citing similar reasons to Wildsmith, along with improved access to education. Brindis also drew on the general trend of having children later, currently taking place across all age groups. "We have to give young people a lot of credit for being pregnancy-free," she said. Some 32 percent of high schoolers said they had ever had sex in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). This is a decrease from the 47 percent who said they had ever had sex a decade earlier, in 2013, and significantly lower than in 1991, when 54 percent said they had ever had sex. "I am not sure we have a clear understanding yet of the role that digital/social media is playing in shaping how and when youth form relationships, including sexual relationships, or their thoughts and behavior around parenthood," Wildsmith said. "There is likely a mix of positive and negative impacts. For example, online resources, especially reliable sources that use evidence-based information, may help youth learn about various contraceptive methods and more easily access them," she continued. "Similarly, they can provide access to content around what a safe and healthy romantic relationship looks like." "At the same time, we know that health misinformation on social media platforms is a serious concern," she added. She went on to align the decline in sexual activity with "a decline in the proportion of youth that have ever dated." Brindis also spoke about cultural shifts, pointing to the pandemic when she said: "Perhaps another factor is a residual of COVID, with more young people hanging out in groups, after long periods of isolation, and less likely to end up only in pairs." "Ironically, while more teens are exposed to pornography through social media, they are less likely to feel comfortable talking to each other and being in a relationship," she added. But she went on to speak about the impact of increased education and the choices this has provided. "Clearly, access to education has been shown to be a huge motivator," Brindis said, "as young women are surrounded by role models, including their moms, who have improved their own educational status and who hold great expectations that their daughters can break more glass ceilings than they were able to themselves." "Young women are more likely to explore how to protect themselves, including delaying having sex, having fewer partners, if they are sexually active (which reduces their risk as more steady partners will increase the likelihood of conversations about birth control protection in the context of all their other dreams," she added. While "the dramatic decline in the teen birth rate since the early 1990s has occurred across all race/ethnic and socioeconomic groups," as Wildsmith said, the declines "have been somewhat uneven across groups and there are still large disparities in the teen birth rate across race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status." For example, teen birth rates among Native (20.9), Hispanic (20.8), Pacific Islander (21.2), and Black (19.3) teens were more than double that of white teens (8.4) and over ten times higher than Asian teens (1.8) in 2023, according to a Congressional Research Service report published in April, which used data from the National Center for Health Statistics. "We should recognize that there continues to be segments who are more likely to be at risk-young people who are poor or low income, those who live in rural communities, with less education, and with less hope for economic opportunities continue to be more vulnerable," Brindis said. "The risks are that we don't continue to invest in young people across all groups, and especially women, if education opportunities are shut off, if economic options (as an alternative to going to college), if student loans are eliminated or more difficult to get, if families have more economic struggles, if access to birth control or other social support services, for example, many of these positive trends can evaporate," she added. Last month, Newsweek broke down how birth rates have changed across all age groups over the past 50 years. While mothers between the ages of 50 and 54 had no babies in 1975, this number gradually increased to more than 100 over the years and was 159 in 2024. People in their twenties have had fewer babies, often delaying children to their thirties, which has meant the number of births in this age group has increased. America is one of many countries around the world struggling with falling birth rates. Fertility rates are projected to average 1.6 births per woman over the next three decades, according to the Congressional Budget Office's latest forecast released this year. This number is well below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman required to maintain a stable population without immigration. Many trying to tackle this issue have focused on public health policies and financial plans, often citing the 2008 financial crisis, its effect on housing, inflation and pay as a major contributor to why people delay having children, have fewer of them or to not have them at all. The Donald Trump administration has made this issue one of its priorities, with the White House exploring the possibility of giving women a "baby bonus" of $5,000, according to an April New York Times report. 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Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
The Teen Mom is Dying Out
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. While the birth rate has declined in general over the last 50 years, mothers aged between 15 and 19 have seen the most consistently steep fall. In 1975, there were 599,926 teen births in America – more than double the teen pregnancies recorded in 2024 (136,376), according to the U.N. Population Division. Among the teen births that do take place today, "the vast majority occur among folks who are 18 or 19," said Elizabeth Wildsmith, a family demographer and sociologist at Child Trends, a nonpartisan research organization. "Teen births have declined dramatically over the past several decades," she told Newsweek, citing a lower level of sexual activity among teenagers, a higher level of contraceptive use and wider social changes. "No easy answers," said Claire Brindis, co-director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Health National Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco. "No one factor can really explain the reductions," she told Newsweek, citing similar reasons to Wildsmith, along with improved access to education. Brindis also drew on the general trend of having children later, currently taking place across all age groups. "We have to give young people a lot of credit for being pregnancy-free," she said. Teenagers Are Having Less Sex Some 32 percent of high schoolers said they had ever had sex in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). This is a decrease from the 47 percent who said they had ever had sex a decade earlier, in 2013, and significantly lower than in 1991, when 54 percent said they had ever had sex. "I am not sure we have a clear understanding yet of the role that digital/social media is playing in shaping how and when youth form relationships, including sexual relationships, or their thoughts and behavior around parenthood," Wildsmith said. "There is likely a mix of positive and negative impacts. For example, online resources, especially reliable sources that use evidence-based information, may help youth learn about various contraceptive methods and more easily access them," she continued. "Similarly, they can provide access to content around what a safe and healthy romantic relationship looks like." "At the same time, we know that health misinformation on social media platforms is a serious concern," she added. She went on to align the decline in sexual activity with "a decline in the proportion of youth that have ever dated." Brindis also spoke about cultural shifts, pointing to the pandemic when she said: "Perhaps another factor is a residual of COVID, with more young people hanging out in groups, after long periods of isolation, and less likely to end up only in pairs." "Ironically, while more teens are exposed to pornography through social media, they are less likely to feel comfortable talking to each other and being in a relationship," she added. But she went on to speak about the impact of increased education and the choices this has provided. "Clearly, access to education has been shown to be a huge motivator," Brindis said, "as young women are surrounded by role models, including their moms, who have improved their own educational status and who hold great expectations that their daughters can break more glass ceilings than they were able to themselves." "Young women are more likely to explore how to protect themselves, including delaying having sex, having fewer partners, if they are sexually active (which reduces their risk as more steady partners will increase the likelihood of conversations about birth control protection in the context of all their other dreams," she added. Have Teen Pregnancies Changed For Everyone? While "the dramatic decline in the teen birth rate since the early 1990s has occurred across all race/ethnic and socioeconomic groups," as Wildsmith said, the declines "have been somewhat uneven across groups and there are still large disparities in the teen birth rate across race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status." For example, teen birth rates among Native (20.9), Hispanic (20.8), Pacific Islander (21.2), and Black (19.3) teens were more than double that of white teens (8.4) and over ten times higher than Asian teens (1.8) in 2023, according to a Congressional Research Service report published in April, which used data from the National Center for Health Statistics. "We should recognize that there continues to be segments who are more likely to be at risk-young people who are poor or low income, those who live in rural communities, with less education, and with less hope for economic opportunities continue to be more vulnerable," Brindis said. "The risks are that we don't continue to invest in young people across all groups, and especially women, if education opportunities are shut off, if economic options (as an alternative to going to college), if student loans are eliminated or more difficult to get, if families have more economic struggles, if access to birth control or other social support services, for example, many of these positive trends can evaporate," she added. Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva People Are Having Children Later in General Last month, Newsweek broke down how birth rates have changed across all age groups over the past 50 years. While mothers between the ages of 50 and 54 had no babies in 1975, this number gradually increased to more than 100 over the years and was 159 in 2024. People in their twenties have had fewer babies, often delaying children to their thirties, which has meant the number of births in this age group has increased. America is one of many countries around the world struggling with falling birth rates. Fertility rates are projected to average 1.6 births per woman over the next three decades, according to the Congressional Budget Office's latest forecast released this year. This number is well below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman required to maintain a stable population without immigration. Many trying to tackle this issue have focused on public health policies and financial plans, often citing the 2008 financial crisis, its effect on housing, inflation and pay as a major contributor to why people delay having children, have fewer of them or to not have them at all. The Donald Trump administration has made this issue one of its priorities, with the White House exploring the possibility of giving women a "baby bonus" of $5,000, according to an April New York Times report.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Active Minds Statement on Shutdown of 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline LGBTQ+ Subnetwork
WASHINGTON, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Active Minds is deeply concerned by the recent decision to discontinue the LGBTQ+ subnetwork of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, known as the "Press 3 option." This decision represents a significant and dangerous step backward in our collective commitment to prioritizing mental health for all young people and will result in the termination of a vital support system for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults by July 17. At a time when we are facing an escalating youth mental health crisis, we need to lean into the evidence-based solutions that work. According to data from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 41% of LGBTQ+ high school students seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, compared to 13% of their cisgender and heterosexual peers. LGBTQ+ youth face disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges and suicidal ideation, often driven by systemic discrimination, identity-based violence, and social isolation, making specialized, culturally competent crisis services not only beneficial, but essential. The "Press 3" option was created in recognition of this critical need, providing identity-affirming support from trained counselors who understand the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ young people. These services are not arbitrary; they were established to provide culturally competent, identity-affirming support that general crisis lines are often unequipped to deliver. Eliminating this specialized support will cost lives. The fact that this announcement was made during Pride Month makes it especially pointed. Particularly alarming is the omission of the "T" from the "LGBTQ+" acronym in its public messaging dismissing an entire identity, an identity that has historically faced disproportionately high rates of mental health concerns; especially among younger trans and nonbinary individuals. Data from The Trevor Project shows that transgender and nonbinary youth are two to two-and-a-half times more likely than their cisgender LGBTQ+ peers to experience depression, consider suicide, or make an attempt. Taking away the "Press 3 option" created to provide affirming, identity-understanding care poses a direct threat to the lives and wellbeing of especially vulnerable youth. As the nation's leading nonprofit mobilizing youth and young adults to improve mental health norms for all, Active Minds calls on lawmakers and constituents to take action. We encourage Congress to restore funding for identity-affirming crisis services and ensure all crisis counselors are equipped to serve LGBTQ+ youth with empathy and competence. Every young person deserves access to mental health care that is safe, responsive, and tailored to their lived experience. Our movement has always been about amplifying diverse voices of youth and young adults positioning them to change how mental health is valued and prioritized. The voices of these trailblazers are clear: specialized mental health support saves lives, and no young person should ever be left behind. Now is the time to take action and here is what our youth and young adult network is doing: Learning about upcoming state and federal legislative efforts aimed at protecting mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults; engagement is essential to ensure these vital services are preserved and expanded. Becoming legislative advocates with Active Minds and joining us and our partners in the fight for mental health equity at every level of government and community. Mobilizing as advocates, allies, and community members against this harmful decision by signing The Trevor Project's national petition here: Protect the 988 Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Youth. We will continue to uplift the voices and stories of LGBTQ+ youth and advocate for mental health systems that recognize, respect, and protect every person, and champion a new era of mental health that truly values and prioritizes the wellbeing of all youth. If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. For LGBTQ+ youth, The Trevor Project's trained crisis counselors are available 24/7: Call 1-866-488-7386 Chat at Text START to 678678 To learn more about Active Minds, visit us online at For media inquiries, please contact: dante@ About Active MindsActive Minds is the largest nonprofit in the United States mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms across society. For more than 20 years, we have equipped the next generation of peer mental health advocates through a variety of programs, including the Active Minds Chapter Network, A.S.K., and Send Silence Packing. Our advocacy, initiatives, and campaigns foster lasting change in how youth view and discuss mental health, encouraging them to use their voices to influence broader conversations and inform mental health supports within their communities. Together, we are building a diverse movement of champions committed to improving mental health for all. To learn more about Active Minds, visit active Contact: Dante Worth dante@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Active Minds, Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
18-06-2025
- Health
Trump administration to close LGBTQ+ suicide hotline program next month
The federal government said on Tuesday it is ending the national suicide hotline's specialized support for LGBTQ+ youth next month. In a press release, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) -- which falls under the Department of Health and Human Services -- said the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline would close the LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services program on July 17. "The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer silo LGB+ youth services, also known as the 'Press 3 option,' to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option," SAMHSA said in statement. "Everyone who contacts the 988 Lifeline will continue to receive access to skilled, caring, culturally competent crisis counselors who can help with suicidal, substance misuse, or mental health crises, or any other kind of emotional distress," the statement continued. "Anyone who calls the Lifeline will continue to receive compassion and help." In September 2022, 988 launched a pilot program to specifically address the needs of LGBTQ+ Americans under age 25 by providing services with a counselor trained to support LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. In March 2023, the program expanded to 24/7 services. SAMHSA data shows more than 1.2 million LGBTQ+ people contacted 988 between July 2022 -- the beginning of the new three-digit number for the national suicide hotline -- and February 2025. The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focusing on suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ+ youth, was among those providing support for the specialized program. The organization said on Wednesday that it received notice the program was ending. "This means that, in 30 short days, this program that has provided life-saving services to more than 1.3 million LGBTQ+ young people will no longer be available for those who need it," Jaymes Black, CEO of the Trevor Project, sad in a statement. "The fact that this news comes to us halfway through Pride Month is callous -- as is the administration's choice to remove the 'T' from the acronym 'LGBTQ+' in their announcement." Studies show that youth who identify as LGBTQ+ -- lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or another non-heterosexual identity -- report higher rates of poor mental health and higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their cisgender and heterosexual peers. In 2023, more than three in five LGBTQ+ high school students said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, according to a 2024 report of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report also found that 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year and one in five did attempt suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide -- free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text the national lifeline at 988.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Teens Aren't Getting Enough Sleep — & This High School Has a Plan to Fix It
Algebra, history, sleep training — it's all part of your regular school day if you attend Mansfield Senior High School in Ohio. Educators there are hosting a 'sleep intervention' for their students to help them re-learn how to sleep well, and this type of training is more important now than ever before. Many districts have pushed for a delayed start time for high-schoolers (backed by the CDC and AAP), but this school is taking a more novel approach. Give the teens the skills needed to get better sleep and encourage them to pay attention to how many hours of shut-eye they get a night to see firsthand how going to bed late affects them. More from SheKnows How the 'God Forbid' TikTok Trend Became a Digital Clapback for Gen Z Girls Mansfield health teacher Tony Davis, who incorporated a new sleep curriculum into his health class, told Associated Press, 'It might sound odd to say that kids in high school have to learn the skills to sleep' (Especially if your teen never seems to want to wake up in the morning!) 'But you'd be shocked how many just don't know how to sleep,' he added. The outlet interviewed students in the classroom, who revealed various unhealthy sleep practices they used: like scrolling through TikTok or texting in late-night group chats with friends until they doze off. And surveys of Davis's five classes found that over 60% of students use their phone as an alarm clock and over 50% go to sleep while looking at their phones. To help, Mansfield is piloting a new curriculum, 'Sleep to Be a Better You,' that has teens keep daily sleep logs for six weeks and rate their mood and energy levels, while learning healthy sleep habits. And it's working! The students are reporting feeling happier after increasing their nightly sleep, which makes sense. After all, not sleeping enough can affect your moods, decision-making abilities, impulse control, focus, mental health, and so much more. The CDC recommends that teens get 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, that is just not happening. The CDC conducted a Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 77% of students in 2021 didn't get enough sleep, which is up from 69% I 2009. This study also found that girls (80%), Black students (84%), and 12th grade students (84%) were the highest demographics of not getting enough sleep. And it's not just social media keeping these kids awake. Students are also feeling burdened by college applications, extracurricular activities, and the stress of growing up. A recent study by Common Sense Media, aided by researchers at Harvard and Indiana University, found that teens are increasingly experiencing levels of stress and burnout that are typically seen in adults. Specifically, teens are stressed about their future plan, achievements, appearance, social life, and other areas. SheKnows polled our own Teen Council as part of our 'Be a Man' series and found that over 90% of teens surveyed admitted to feeling stressed frequently or occasionally, with 54.5% attributing this to grades and extracurriculars. Amanda Lenhart, Head of Research at Common Sense Media, told SheKnows, 'Teens are telling us that they face intense pressures, and are looking to adults to support rather than dismiss their concerns, to share in their joys and work with them to help prioritize critical self-care practices and create more balance in their lives.' So help your teen take a step back, support them, and encourage them to get more sleep, especially on school nights. If your school district doesn't have sleep training classes (which is the most likely scenario, at least for now), you can teach your teens at home by having easy and compassionate discussions about building strong sleeping skills that will benefit them now and throughout life. Jennifer L.W. Fink, author and co-host of ON BOYS parenting podcast, previously told SheKnows that parents should prioritize rest and sleep to help their teens do the same. 'Give teens space, time, and encouragement to REST,' she said. 'Prioritize sleep, time off, and rejuvenating activities, and talk about why you do so.' 'Helping students create regular routines and healthy boundaries with energy-draining communications can help them avoid burnout,' she of SheKnows 28 Celebrity Moms Who Put Their Hollywood Careers on Hold to Stay Home With Their Kids Netflix's Bad Influence Isn't Just About Kidfluencers — It's About Every Parent Who's Ever Hit 'Post' Exclusive: 20 Celebrity Moms Reveal the Best Way Motherhood Has Changed Them
