The complex relationship between mental health and risky behavior in teens and young adults was one of the focuses of a panel discussion led by health economist Jon Cawley held recently at the Syracuse University Center in Washington, DC. Corey, a professor of economics, public administration, and international affairs and the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Professor of Public Policy, studies the economics of risky health behaviors such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and obesity. He began the broader conversation by sharing data about risky health behaviors and youth.

“We’ve seen some unfortunate trends, including an increase in obesity and an increase in suicide rates,” said Corey, who attended the event titled “Are Our Kids Okay?” with Maxwell colleagues Monica Deza and Sarah E. Hamelsma. He pointed out that in the early 1970s, obesity rates among teenagers were less than 5%, but now they are over 22%. “But some things have gotten better,” he added.

Corey noted that marijuana use, smoking and binge drinking have been declining among high school students since the 1970s. He also pointed out that teenage pregnancies have been declining over the past 50 years, and the trend has continued over the past 10 years. He asked Deza, associate professor of economics, and Hamelsma, associate professor of public administration and international affairs, a question that was asked repeatedly during the discussion: “Are the kids okay?”

“Surprisingly, I would say no,” Deza replied. She explained that if you had told her early on in school that all these numbers would go down, it would be safe to assume that young people would be doing better. “And yet, clearly that’s not the case. Depression is definitely on the rise.”

Deza stressed that it’s not just that young people are happier when risky health behaviors are more prevalent. Instead, she said, “What happened was that the world changed.” He cited increasingly complex challenges such as lack of employment and underemployment, combined with high student debt, as factors contributing to feelings of hopelessness and depression among young people.

When asked, Hamelsma agreed that she doesn’t think kids are okay, noting that many of these unhealthy behaviors are bundled with other healthy activities that are now less common.

“It’s great that kids don’t go to someone’s house and become an alcoholic,” Hamelsma said. “But the problem is, they don’t go to anyone’s house at all. They don’t go anywhere. They’re isolated. They’re lonely. And by losing the risky behavior, we also lose parts of that behavior that may have been part of their healthy development.”

Panelists also discussed how other societal changes are impacting young people, such as technological changes such as smartphones and AI, and the overall impact of the pandemic. They also examined research on policies aimed at improving behavior, such as regulation and use taxes, with varying degrees of success or failure.

Students and alumni in attendance participated in the conversation, sharing their own concerns about youth mental health and the many challenges they face as a generation.

The panel discussion was part of a full day of activities held at Maxwell’s facility at the Syracuse Center in Washington, which included meetings to share individual research focus areas and potential collaborations, during which Jun Li, assistant professor of public administration and international affairs, also participated.

A group of health economists also visited the Capitol and shared information about their research and expertise with the offices of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative John Mannion (D-NY 22nd District).

The day concluded with a reception for panelists and audience at the Center.

Mr. Corey will join the Maxwell School in August 2025 and also serves as a Senior Research Fellow in the Center for Policy Research (CPR). He is president-elect of the American Society of Health Economists.

Deza is a senior research fellow at CPR. Her research examines the determinants of risky health behaviors among youth, particularly drug use and criminal behavior. She is a faculty researcher in the Health Economics Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Mr. Hamersma is a scholar at O’Hanley College and a senior research fellow at CPR. Much of her recent research focuses on health and nutrition programs, examining their impact on food insecurity, health outcomes, and labor supply.

Written by Court Rudy