Recent years have not been good for the mental health of many children, but new data offers a devastating insight into harm.
On Monday, Mental Health America released a review of 5.4 million online mental health reviews in 2021, one of which went through the organization’s website. According to the report, 45 percent of screening participants were between the ages of 11 and 17, a 16 percent increase since 2019.
The rate of suicidal ideation is also higher among young people, especially among LGBTQ + young people. Overall, 51 percent of depression screeners ages 11 to 17 reported frequent suicidal thoughts more than half, or almost daily, in the past two weeks. This number rose to 52% for youth of color and to 63% for youth identified as LGBTQ +.
What do these numbers mean?
“We want to focus on those numbers when they reach a tipping point,” Nurse Reinert, director of mental health for the American population, told HuffPost. “More people than ever are having difficulty with mental health and are seeking resources and support online.”
It was also noted that 9 out of 10 teens between the ages of 11 and 17 who checked for depression on the website accumulated symptoms of moderate to severe depression, a higher rate than any other age group.
America’s mental health data was collected from its online screening program, which began in 2014 and consists of 10 free, anonymous, confidential and clinical trial tools on the organization’s website. It is important to note that the population receiving this screening is made up of people seeking mental health help and resources, so they are more likely to test positive for these symptoms than the average individual.
However, Reinert believes the data, particularly the growing number of young consumers seeking these resources, underscores the magnitude of the mental health crisis affecting young Americans today.
“Of course, we know that COVID-19 has actually affected our mental health, not only by affecting our health and that of our loved ones, but it has also altered our social environment,” he said. “About 70% of our 11-17 year olds report that loneliness or social isolation contributes to their mental health problems. And we’ve seen more young people express concern about infertility. of financial security, showing the impact of COVID-19 and unemployment. “
In addition to social isolation, health problems and financial insecurity, Reinert noted that teens also experience pain after losing a loved one or missing key life opportunities, such as attending school. or some big event. More than 200,000 Children Lose a parent or guardian in the United States because of COVID-19, non-white children are more likely to lose a caring adult.
For some LGBTQ + youth there are problems caused by confinement in the home of a family that does not agree with their identity. Feeling isolated in schools, communities, or other places where they felt more accepted or perhaps had access to trusted adults can also be a determining factor. And for people of color, there are increasing reports of racism and a more pronounced fear of racial violence in the United States.
“The situation is urgent,” Rainert said. “People might think, ‘Oh, it’s because of COVID, and once it disappears, everything will be better and rates will go down.’ But we are seeing a huge impact on mental health that will continue if we don’t act now.This problem is not going away.We are approaching a pre-pandemic crisis state and the pandemic has raised a giant magnifying glass to an existing problem. ”
What can be done to improve the mental health of children?
“We need to check all young people about their mental health, as well as check their hearing and vision,” said Schroeder Stribbling, U.S. President and CEO for Mental Health. “We also need to promote positive social inclusion and healthy strategies to cope with stress and negative emotions, especially when they emerge from long periods of social isolation and disruption in daily life.
He stressed the importance of prevention, early identification and intervention in mental health. For young people, this means having access to equal, accessible, compassionate and non-judgmental support and resources in their communities and schools, whether through counselors, psychologists or even trusted adults only.
“Parents have a simple but important role to play, and that is listening and support,” Stribling added. “If your child feels they have a mental health problem, trust him or her, confirm how they are feeling and offer help. We hear frustrating stories about young people who are ill but we don’t feel that a parent or caregiver doesn’t believe in them or support them-and conversely, we know that a supportive caregiver is can help young people out of crisis and in recovery and well. -being. “
It is also important to make sure that youth crisis prevention and mental health services are fully covered by public and private health insurance, as this is not the case at present.
“Social media is also part of the puzzle,” Stribling added. “We need to revisit social media platforms and find ways to reduce content that is harmful to the mental health of young people.”
While social media can help in providing an online community for those who feel isolated wherever they live, their negative impact has been on young people. Well documented. Creating a healthier mental experience for young consumers is key.
Young people need to be aware of the impact of social media on their mental health. If they think they have symptoms of a mental health condition, they can start screening online.
“The next step is to share the results of this screening with a parent, teacher, doctor, school counselor or other trusted adult to start a conversation about getting support,” Stribling said.
“Young people can also be supporters of their schools and communities,” Stribling said. “We work with young people who are encouraged to get more accessible mental health support and services in their regions. There are no voices stronger than the young people themselves and we invite young people to commit to themselves in defense of mental health ”.
Source: Huffpost
