The mental health crisis among U.S. teens is a life or death issue.
Across the board, we’ve seen increases in mental health issues in children and teens over the past decade. Emergency room visits by children between 2007-2019 rose sharply for anxiety, mood disorders, and self-harm. And for people ages 10 to 24, suicide rates leaped nearly 60 percent from 2007 to 2018.
More children are struggling with their mental health and need proper mental health care. Yet, the system that is meant to support them is failing to keep up with these growing numbers.
Our youth weren’t always suffering like this, but American youth are undergoing a drastic change.
Three decades ago, the gravest public health threats to teenagers in the United States came from binge drinking, drunk driving, teen pregnancy, and smoking. These have since fallen sharply, replaced by a new public health concern: soaring rates of mental health disorders.
This has only been worsened by the pandemic and exacerbated by a shortage of therapists and treatment options. The clock is ticking to implement the solutions we need for this urgent crisis.
It’s okay to not be okay. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they text HOME to 741741.
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