The State of Youth Mental Health

Mental Health
Written By Carol Deely
 

What Are the Experts Saying About the State of Youth Mental Health?

October 19, 2021:  Three national agencies dedicated to the well-being of children declare a National Emergency in child and adolescent mental health.

December 7, 2021: The U.S. Surgeon General issues an Advisory on the youth mental health crisis in America saying the crisis has been further exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 31, 2022:  New CDC data illuminate youth mental health threats during the COVID-19 pandemic.  According to the new data, in 2021, more than a third (37%) of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 44% reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year.

There has been a youth mental health crisis lingering for quite some time. Experts say youth mental health has been on the decline for a decade or more. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and hastened this looming crisis into a full-blown emergency. As you can see from the timeline above, our leaders and agencies tasked with the well-being of our children are taking notice of the problem. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the CDC have each taken steps to study and highlight the severity of the problem.

 

Highlights from the March 2022 CDC Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES)

As summarized by Erika’s Lighthouse, a close partner to Gabriel’s Light

  • CDC finding: Poor mental health very common among high school students
    “Approximately one in three high school students experienced poor mental health (most of the time or always) during the COVID-19 pandemic (37.1%) and during the past 30 days (31.1%)”

  • CDC finding: High rates of suicidal ideation
    “During the 12 months before the survey, 19.9% of students had seriously considered attempting suicide, and 9.0% had attempted suicide.”

  • CDC finding: Today’s stressors may have long-term consequences
    “Evidence from previous outbreaks suggests that the pandemic might have long-term consequences for youth mental health and well-being and be associated with potential increases in youth depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which underscores the urgent need to address mental health needs among youths.”

  • CDC finding: Connectedness within the family is important
    “In addition to engaging with their child’s school, parents and caregivers can build relationships with their child through open discussions and shared activities.”

Source: https://www.erikaslighthouse.org/blog/cdc-report-erikas-lighthouse-perspective/

 

Now that the problem and some of the corresponding issues have been identified, how can we begin to rectify the situation?


What Are Our Leaders Doing About the Crisis?

Some help is on the way. In March 2022, President Biden pledged to take on mental health in his first State of the Union address. The president plans to focus on children’s mental health by increasing funding in 2023’s budget for schools to hire more school counselors, psychologists, social workers and other staff who work directly with students. In July 2022, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline went into effect. This easy-to-remember three-digit number functions similarly to 911 and provides 24/7 crisis care The lifeline, which also links to the Veterans Crisis Line, follows a three-year joint effort by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to put crisis care more in reach for people in need.

 

In addition, there are two pieces of cyber safety legislation being considered by Congress. The Kids Online Safety Act of 2022 (KOSA) is legislation that would ensure social media platforms put the interests of children first by requiring platforms to make safety the default and to give kids and parents tools to help prevent the destructive impact of social media on our children’s mental health. The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) was the original federal online privacy and protection act established in 1998.  Currently, COPPA 2.0 is in legislation to update online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensure both children and teenagers are protected online.   

Read more about each piece of legislation by clicking these links:
KOSA: https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/kids_online_safety_act_-_one_pager.pdf
COPPA 2.0: https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-and-cassidy-propose-bipartisan-bill-to-update-childrens-online-privacy-rules

How can we ensure these important pieces of cyber safety legislation pass?

Call or email your senator and ask them to co-sponsor both bills. Then encourage friends and family to contact their senators too. There is strength in numbers!

You can click here to find a list of senators by state: https://www.senate.gov/senators/

 

How can I help my children through their depression or anxiety?

In addition to asking your senator to pass the above legislation, below are some pieces of advice for helping your child with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. This wisdom comes directly from moms who have lost a child to suicide – some directly from our founder, Carol Deely, and others from one of the co-founders of Elyssa’s Mission, Joanne Meyers. Joanne lost her daughter Elyssa to suicide in 2004 and Elyssa’s Mission is a close partner of Gabriel’s Light.

  • Mental Health is as important as physical health. Brains are organs and need care just as the rest of our bodies do. When considering how to manage a mental health issue, compare it in your mind to decision making around a chronic issue like diabetes or a diagnosis like cancer.

  • Err on the side of caution - the consequences of not addressing a mental health crisis are too grave. Do not question warning signs or hope that “it’s just a phase”. Take all hints and signals of suicidal thoughts seriously.

  • Find a team of doctors: psychologist(s), psychiatrist, pediatrician/internist who have a relationship and will work as a team consulting one another on your child’s emotional well-being.

  • Caregivers need their own support.  Caring for someone with mental health issues is stressful and can be scary, overwhelming and exhausting.  Parents’ self-care is critical for both the parents and their children.

  • Talk openly to your child about suicide and the effects of suicide on him/her and the effects on you, family and friends. Don’t dismiss your child’s thoughts as being unrealistic. Don’t try to convince yourself that your child is not thinking about it. Most likely, your child is thinking about it.

  • Build a strong support system in your school. Have an on-going dialogue with a teacher, social worker, or administrator who will act as your child’s advocate. Be open about your child’s illness and have access to all writings and conversations that occur in the school.

  • Read your child’s books, notes and anything else you can get your hands on, including a journal or diary. This was hard for me to do, but it was how I learned what was really going on in my child’s head.

  • Help your child’s friends understand what is going on with your child and how they can help by communicating with you when they are concerned about their friend. I suggest educating your child’s friends on suicidal warning signs and ask the friends to call you if they detect any such signs.

  • Speak to your child’s friends’ parents. Share what is happening with your child and ask them to communicate with you should they hear anything from their children that may be helpful.

  • Ask yourself and ask your psychologist/psychiatrist if your child needs a therapeutic environment. If your child is talking about suicide, he/she does need a therapeutic environment and your therapist should provide recommendations.

  • Don’t be afraid to use the word “suicide” when creating a circle of support.

  • Don’t think you know what is going on inside your child’s head because you don’t.

  • Written contracts mean nothing!! Elyssa signed one with her psychologist.

  • Excessive sleeping or “napping” is not ordinary behavior in an adolescent.

  • Educate yourself on all medications that are prescribed and the side effects! Please talk to your doctor about what can happen when your child is taken off medications(s).

  • Medication in conjunction with therapy can be a successful form of treatment. Therapy, with the right therapist, is crucial to the success of mental illness.

In summary, you are not alone. Unfortunately, there is often still a stigma around mental health issues. Sometimes people feel shame or embarrassment, which may keep them from seeking the appropriate care. Almost a third of Americans suffer from a mental issue in their lifetime so you are not alone. The more we all talk openly about it, the better we can support those affected and their families. A free crisis counselor is always available by calling or texting 988.

 

Sources

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About Gabriel's Light

In 2019, Carol and Brendan Deely founded Gabriel’s Light in honor of their son who died by suicide at age 12. In honor of Gabe and all those lost to suicide, they share their journey with the hope that others may learn and grow from their tragedy. Focusing on three pillars of cyber safety, suicide prevention, and kindness campaigns, through outreach, programs, partnerships, and funding, they raise awareness and inspire youth, parents, and educators to take action and help forward their mission.

Carol Deely https://gabrielslight.org
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