“Social media is definitely flooded with posts that make it appear like everyone is hooking up,” says Jessica Gulmi, clinic director at Crossroads: The Manhattan Young Adult Clinic, an organization that provides mental health support to young people. “But that doesn’t necessarily reflect how much it’s happening in reality.”
In fact, less than half of high school students—about 40 percent—have had sex, according to a 2017 U.S. government survey. But numbers aren’t always reassuring when it feels like, within your group of friends, you’re the odd person out. It’s natural to worry that you’ll lose your partner or friends, be called names, or be the subject of rumors if you don’t hook up. Here’s how to handle that tricky situation.
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