Dhaka, July 16 -- A worsening mental health crisis is unfolding among American teenagers, with two out of every five high school students reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness, according to new data underscoring the harmful effects of screen addiction on youth well-being.

The 74, a U.S.-based nonprofit news outlet focused on education, published a commentary Tuesday highlighting the alarming scope of the crisis. Citing new research from the Coalition to Empower our Future, the piece noted that nearly 60 percent of parents rate their children's mental health as "very or somewhat poor."

Experts cited in the report emphasized that the nature of screen engagement-such as compulsive use of social media or smartphones-poses a greater t...