Arizona’s youth mental health crisis has been a prevalent issue that does not appear to be—at least according to recent data, showing any signs of improving. 

In fact, reportedly, Arizona is one the worst states in the nation for mental health care leaving many teens turning to different unhealthy, life-affecting habits. Local experts are struggling to step up to help young people. 

Many factors contribute to the mental health struggles that teens may go through, including  excessive social media use that convey conflicting or misinformed messages according to some experts in the field of young adult mental health.  

While social media use in its ideal is aimed at making more healthy connections with others, in many cases, it does the exact opposite. Many teens experience cyberbullying, misinformation and confusing messaging through social media apps, contributing to a decline in their well-being.

Kara Ironside, a therapist at The Meadows Outpatient Adolescent Center in Scottsdale, told Northeast Valley News some of what she believed has been a leading cause of mental health issues among the youth in Arizona and beyond. 

“Social media feels like the biggest influencer of how mental health is changing,” Ironside said.  “We are all exposed to so much information, and it has a pretty overwhelming impact on mental health.” 

Substance abuse can certainly be a result of any teen struggling with mental health. The use of different substances among teens is quite common in the state of Arizona.

SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) in a 2021-22 study for which was averaged per state and by America’s Health Rankings. The study concluded that 10.8% of children through the ages of 12-17 reported using an illicit drug in the past month, leaving Arizona at an outrageous rank of 49 compared to every other state.

Ironside said one of the main reasons, from her experience, why adolescents turn to substances. “Substances are used to fill a void, and so people are using them to meet their needs, but as I said, I believe it comes from a sense of loneliness.”

Self-harm and eating disorders are two results as well that can be easily associated with a decline in a teen’s mental health. 

Arizona Department of Health Services released an adolescent mental health report in October 2024, using the results from their Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted in 2021. 

It stated that self-harm among the youth had increased by 33% (from 21% to 28%) between the years of 2017 and 2021. The status of unhealthy weight control among adolescents increased by 48% (from 20% to 29%) during the four-year duration between 2017 and 2021.

Ironside gave her opinions on both self-harm and eating disorders.

“Self-harm is really popular, and I don’t think people realize how popular it is becoming,” Ironside said. “Disordered eating is also very perpetuated in our culture.”

Adolescents facing mental health issues require healthy and accessible outlets to express themselves, cope with their emotions, have their voices heard, and seek support. 

Ultimately, according to experts, the kind of attention and care America’s youth need will require healthy and accessible mental health and substance abuse behavioral outlets and not unrealistic expectations often found through social media influencers or unhealthy rhetoric and product marketing.

Young people need to express themselves and be able to cope with their emotions in meaningful ways and in some cases with trained professionals.  

If America’s youth feel isolated and alone, substance abuse and other mental health issues will only worsen.