According to a recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics, just over a quarter of teens said they always get the social and emotional support they need, but parents were nearly three times more likely to think they did. The study was conducted over 2021 and 2022 and included nearly 1,200 children ages 12 to 17 and their parents.

Experts say support systems are important for everyone but particularly for teens. If you need to talk to someone, help is available. You can find free, anonymous, and confidential helplines that provide counseling and support on our Hotlines page.