Hate to break it to you, but the start of the new school year is almost here. That is why I am sharing with you the following relevant findings, which were released by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
I recently shared similar information with you. But with the school year approaching, I wanted to take this space to update and reiterate the concerns parents and caregivers have about adolescent mental health and substance use issues.
The news is not so good. Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation’s findings indicate that there has been a marked increase recently in relation to gun violence and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In recent years, many young people have experienced deteriorating emotional health, increased stress and a lack of peer connection. Other mental health and drug use problems are on the rise, including drug overdose deaths, self-harm and eating disorders. At the same time, young people spend more time on screens and many of them report negative experiences such as parental abuse, hunger and unemployment, all of which can be linked to poor mental health outcomes.
Here are some other important takeaways:
So, as a parent or caregiver, you should know that there are several steps taken or proposed to address the worsening mental health and caregiving challenges.
The US Preventive Services Task Force has released draft recommendations to screen adolescents ages 12 to 18 for major depression and children ages 8 to 18 for anxiety. In addition, many state Medicaid programs are planning to implement new crisis services and have already expanded coverage of telemedicine services for mental health and substance use care. Last month, 988 – a federal emergency number was launched. This crisis number provides a single three-digit number for individuals who need access to local and state-funded crisis centers.
See also: Why mental health activists have raised the alarm on the 988 suicide hotline
The government has launched a strategy to tackle the national crisis in mental health by May 2022, building on previous measures. There have also been bills introduced in Congress that would allocate funding toward the integration of behavioral health care into primary care for children, youth suicide prevention, and support for individuals with eating disorders. Special bipartisan legislation supporting mental health and suicide prevention services in schools has also been introduced. And, in response to gun violence, the Bipartisan Community Safety Act was signed into law that earmarks funds for mental health, including trauma care for school children.
A large portion of the American public reports that increasing government funding for access to mental health services and the training of mental health providers should be a top priority for Congress, despite several other health care issues. high.
Obviously, despite the efforts noted above, challenges remain in addressing the worsening mental health of young people and accessing care issues.
Mental health issues and drug use among young people have increased over time and are more prevalent among several subgroups. Some states have recently considered policies limiting LGBTQ+ youth access to gender-affirming care, which, if implemented, may contribute to poor mental health in this population.
In addition, gun violence and active shooters in schools may contribute to poor mental health outcomes in youth. If left untreated, mental health conditions that develop during adolescence can persist into adulthood and limit quality of life. Looking ahead, information about vulnerable populations will be central to further understanding how to address and reduce growing concerns about substance use.
I will continue to update you as new things happen.
Ezra Helfand is the CEO/Executive Director of Wellspring Prevention Center. You can reach him at ezra.helfand@wellspringprevention.org.
