I have spent the past 6 months reading hundreds of poems by young people – I was surprised to find hope, not despair

Young poets wrestled with loneliness, fractured families, violence and other challenges – but also showed an unwillingness to surrender to despair.

By: Sean Murphy, Shenandoah University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: June 25, 2026

Words: 1,231

Last Updated: 4 weeks ago

By Sean Murphy, Shenandoah University

If you’ve read any commentary about younger people, none of the following statistics will surprise you.

Approximately 19% of Americans who are 12 to 19 years old are depressed – higher than any adult age group. Only about 58.5% of teens who are 12 to 17, meanwhile, say they consistently receive the emotional and social support they need. They often have little faith in institutions …

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