March 19, 2019:  The recent college admissions scandal is only the latest indication of how much pressure is on teens to “perform” – to get great grades, get into top schools, and look good on social media. All this pressure leads to stress, anxiety, and depression, and frequently to abusing drugs and alcohol.

Stressed Teens are twice as likely to abuse drugs and alcohol

In its landmark report, in 2003, The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University found that highly stressed teens, compared to low-stressed teens are twice as likely to smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs. And, as recently as last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that 90% of those who are addicted, tried drugs before they were 18.

When these stressed-out teens arrived on college campuses, according to a 2017 survey by the American College Health Association, about 61% of the students had experienced “overwhelming anxiety” within the previous year, up from 51% in 2011.

“Talk therapy” replacing long waits for clinicians in countries around the world

Meanwhile, at colleges across the country, non-suicidal students can wait weeks for an appointment in the counseling center. At USC, students frequently must wait up to four weeks during busy times. According to The Economist some of the lack of availability of physicians, clinical psychologists, and social workers is being filled by Cognitive Behavioral Therapists (CBT), who use talk therapy to help the troubled take concrete steps to deal with their negative thoughts, fears and anxieties. And, in Zimbabwe, elderly women, trained in CBT, sit with their “clients” on “friendship benches” in courtyards.

And, when there’s no one to talk with, there’s an app for that…. CLICK TO READ REST OF BLOG