Social Health: The Missing Solution to Today’s Youth Mental Health Crisis

Youth is so often thought of as the time in our lives when we feel our best. Bereft of aching joints and still blind to so many truly adult troubles, we like to think that teens and young adults are living the good life. Unfortunately, that’s far from the truth, and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia are on the rise among these very age groups. 

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of depression among kids and teens between the ages of 3 and 17 grew by a shocking 27% between 2016 and 2020 according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Strict lockdowns and social isolation brought on by the pandemic only made things worse, with young people feeling more disconnected even after restrictions were lifted. 

This is a major public health issue, but what can actually be done about it? An important first step is focusing on social health. 

What Is Social Health?

Social health is our innate human ability to form connections with others, socialize, and interact in meaningful and fulfilling ways. Long overlooked, the impact of inadequate human connection is being widely felt today, even with the U.S. Surgeon General publicly highlighting how interpersonal relationships contribute to our longevity, enhance our physical and mental health, and boost our sense of well-being. On the flip side, poor social health feeds on itself in a negative way, with loneliness leading to further isolation and ultimately putting individuals at a higher risk for serious health conditions. 

Why Are Young People Struggling with Mental Health?

While social anxiety is something that many people experience to a mild degree, recent research shows that a staggering 40% of young people deal with significant anxiety over social interactions. A full one-third admit that they don’t know how to make friends, and 35% say they have never felt more alone than they do now. 

Why? Many youth are not having their basic Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) needs –  non-medical factors that affect health outcomes, like access to adequate healthcare, food, transportation, and housing – met. Tragically, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that a staggering 12% of children (representing 9 million kids across the country) were living in poverty in 2022, compared to 5% of children in 2021. Not having food on the table or a safe bed to sleep in can undoubtedly have a negative impact on mental health. 

Beyond basic needs, one huge contributing factor to these findings is the shift from in-person relationships to strictly online interactions. COVID-19 exacerbated this troubling trend by forcing society to avoid face-to-face contact, increasing feelings of loneliness and isolation across the board. Now, in the post-pandemic world, young people who have spent a disproportionate amount of time focusing on online friendships find themselves without the social skills to connect with others in the real world. 

Interactions on social media can feel important and “real,” but they almost universally lack the depth and emotional connection that face-to-face friendships and relationships provide. No matter how many followers a person may have on social media, they can still feel profoundly alone. Just consider that the U.S. Surgeon General earlier this year issued a new advisory about the effects of social media on youth mental health, even calling for a “warning label” on social media platforms, similar to those on cigarettes and other harmful substances.

How Do Social and Mental Health Connect?

Social health and mental health are undeniably connected on a very fundamental level. There are countless examples as well as a wealth of research examining the link between feelings of isolation and loneliness, and negative mental health outcomes. Social relationships serve as vital lifelines: offering individuals essential support in trying times while also expanding joy by sharing the good times.

SDOH needs are one of the key factors contributing to mental and social health issues. For example, youth who are living in poverty may not be able to afford to join a sports team or a club outside of school, meaning less opportunities to interact with others and build a community of support. Similarly, those who don’t have a trusted adult in their life may not have someone to drive them to a therapist appointment, or someone to talk to after a bad day at school. In short, unmet SDOH needs put increased stress on youth’s ability to establish and maintain quality connections and relationships (i.e., their social health), and – especially when they don’t have people who are in their corner to support them – can have detrimental effects on mental health.

What Can the Healthcare System Do to Improve Social and Mental Health Among Young People?

Addressing social health among teens and young adults gives them the foundation for a healthier adult life. To that end, there are a number of actionable steps that healthcare professionals can take today:

1. Take a holistic approach to healthcare: We must recognize that social, mental, and physical health are all connected. Healthcare providers can and should address impaired social connections when assessing a young person’s mental health and formulating a treatment plan. 
2. Address SDOH needs: Telling a teen to “call a friend” or “join a club” will mean little if they’re not having their basic needs met. Recognizing SDOH needs should be an integral part of any patient intake process. Physicians can help by connecting youth (and their parents) to free or low-cost resources in their community for food, housing, transportation, etc. 
3. Promote Community Engagement and Peer Connections: Resources that actively engage with young people and encourage them to interact with their peers and the community at large are vital. This may be in the form of local clubs, volunteer groups, religious organizations, or even extracurricular activities like sports teams. 
4. Enhance Accessibility to Professionals: Oftentimes, young patients need support between their appointments with physicians. Connecting patients with professionals like peer mentors who can offer advice, support, and companionship can ensure they receive the help they need – when they need it.
5. Encourage Healthy Habits. On an individual basis, we can encourage young people to develop healthy social habits. For example, the 5-3-1 rule, popularized by Harvard-educated social scientist Kasley Killam, suggests that we should all spend time with at least five people every week, continuously nurture three close relationships with your three closest friends and family, and spend at least one hour a day interacting with others face-to-face. These types of interactions can help boost mental health tremendously, and encourage young people to build a support network they can lean on for the rest of their lives.

It’s clear that today’s youth need help, and it’s time to make a change. Recognizing the profound effect of social health on a person’s mental and physical health and providing the support and frameworks for healthy social connections is key to ensuring the next generation can enjoy healthy, happy lives. It’s time to take action, and it starts by fostering community and connection.