Friends’ Mental Health Diagnoses May Elevate Teens’ Risk, Finnish Study Finds
A Finnish study of over 600,000 youths shows that teens whose peers have a mental health diagnosis are more likely to receive one themselves, with a peer’s genetic predisposition also lifting risk—most pronounced in high school. The researchers note emotional contagion can occur online and in person, and that normalization of distress may motivate peers to explore their own difficulties. The findings underscore the importance of school-based mental health programs and parental check-ins, while cautioning against isolating teens and encouraging professional help when issues arise.
