According to Meg Meeker, it is no coincidence that as STDs have become an epidemic in teens, so has depression. In a recent article, Meeker outlined three common physical repercussions of unprotected sex:
- We now have 35 known STDs. In 1960, we only had two.
- Teenagers make up one-third of the U.S. population, but they carry 50 percent of STDs.
- One in four teens has an STD. (Over 80% of those infections have no symptoms, so they can go undetected, which is dangerous for the teen, their future sexual partners and their future children.)
Meeker claims that many teens who have had multiple sexual partners also find themselves battling depression.
Consider these numbers:
- In 2015, an estimated 3 million adolescents age 12 to 17 in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in the past year -that's about 12.5% of all 12 to 17 year olds.
- From 1999-2014, the suicide rate in girls age 10 to 14 tripled.
- About 20% of teens will experience depression before they reach adulthood.
Despite what our culture teaches, teens do not have the cognitive ability to fully process the impact of intimate relationships at such a young age. "Depression occurs by un-grieved losses and the truth is, sex for teen boys and girls causes many losses on many levels," Meeker wrote. Parents, educators and healthcare providers must be aware of the rise in depression among teens and one of its possible causes: sex outside of marriage.
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