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The Breakdown: Youth Depression Rates Skyrocketing

Plus, Ariana Grande launches huge voter registration initiative!

The Breakdown is DoSomething's current events newsletter, where you can read the news and change the news. Want headlines and action in your inbox? Subscribe to The Breakdown.

The One Big Thing

Depression Rates Among Young People Are Skyrocketing

According to a recent study, rates of depression among people under 25 are surging, with young women being twice as likely to be affected. There are tons of potential factors, and some suggest lack of face-to-face interaction is a big one. Young mental health activists are doing incredible work, and you can get involved too: bust myths around depression and make sure to spend in-person time with family and friends.

Take Action

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, get free support by texting 'START' to 741-741.

(Pop) Culture Shock

Ariana Grande Launches Voter Registration During the Sweetener World Tour

As her tour kicks off this week, Ariana Grande’s fans will have the chance to raise their voices, by registering to vote at her concerts, thanks to a partnership with Headcount. Ari has a high bar to hit when it comes to celebs and voter reg: Taylor Swift reportedly registered 65,000 new voters with a single Instagram post last year. And while the haters gonna hate, young Americans turned out to the polls at historic numbers in 2018. To everyone who said young people wouldn’t vote: thank u, next.

Take Action

Take 2 minutes and register to vote at your current address.

The Good News Is...

Sony Picks Up Highly Anticipated Short Film, Hair Love

After raising the most money ever for a short film on Kickstarter, Sony Pictures Animation has announced that it will provide the funds to create and distribute Hair Love, about a Black father learning how to do his daughter’s hair for the first time. The film’s creator, Matthew A. Cherry, is one of many Black filmmakers breaking new ground, and told Deadline that the film was born from a “lack of representation in mainstream animated projects, and also wanting to promote hair love amongst young men and women of color.” Stay tuned for the release date.

Quick Hitters

Why aren’t more people talking about… the fact that high-income students are 60 to 80 times(!!!) more likely than low-income students to get into top colleges?

My hero today is… Mariéme Jamme, who after teaching herself to read and write at age 16, is now teaching one million girls how to code through her organization, iamtheCODE.

I’m obsessed with... the new Stranger Things 3 trailer. Netflix’s modern classic is returning this summer, which means more adorable moments from our favorite bromance.

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