The Mental Health Crisis Among Adolescents

Children and teens are experiencing anxiety and depression at an all time high. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the current mental health of children and teens is considered a national emergency. This is largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting quarantine that so many people had to endure. Children were taken out of school, friends and family were prevented from socializing and had to become socially distant, and all “normal” ways of life were forever changed. According to a CDC survey, hopelessness and loneliness were experienced by nearly half of teens in 2021. The effects of this were the massive rise in substance abuse, which brings its own world of problems. The stress of this pandemic has clearly had a negative effect, but there are ways to help. This is a struggle that children and teens do not have to face alone; showing up and being there for them is half the battle. 

Here are 4 simple ways to help:

 (1) Be observant of things such as mood swings, loss in appetite, over eating, or grades dropping.

 (2) Ask questions: 

Examples : “ I’m sure things are tough for you in school, how have you been doing?” 

“I know you miss your friends, have you talked to them recently? How are they doing?” 

“ Is there anything you’d like to do this week? Let’s try something new, or maybe one of our old favorites” 

(3) Listen to the problems they are having without passing judgement; communicating is very important. 

(4) Getting an outside opinion from professionals in the field of mental health is also beneficial because, while parental support is vital, oftentimes it is not enough. It is especially important for children and teens to know that there is no shame in seeking professional help for mental health struggles.

Edited by TLC intern: Jillian Meloro