Is There a Youth Mental Health Crisis?

The data is compelling that there is a Youth Mental Health Crisis. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Department of Health and Human Services, and professional organizations like the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Psychological Association all agree that children and high school students who are feeling sad and hopeless increased significantly over the last ten years.

Adolescent mental health was already worsening prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A troubling pattern of suicidal thoughts and behaviors are increasing for many high school students with female and LGBTQ+ students at greater risk for persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.

But what about my child? Mental health is shaped by several factors: biological factors, including genes and brain chemistry; environmental and life experience factors such as poverty, losses, school stress, peer relationships/bullying, adverse child events often referred to as ACES (neglect, abuse, and other trauma-related events), parental divorce and interparental conflict.

How do I know my child is experiencing mental health struggles? Look for changes in behavior, lifestyle, friends: sleeping more/more difficulty sleeping, appetite changes, mood changes from becoming more withdrawn to more irritable, drop in grades at school, does not want to participate or enjoy activities that they used to enjoy or participate in.

What to do? Have open and honest conversations with your child/teen; listen instead of reacting, model this with your own behavior by talking about emotions and problem-solving strategies. Encourage connections with friends and family, monitor the amount of time spent on/with social media, video games, and other technologies. Provide a stable and predictable home environment, model stress management and problem solving.

How do I know my child/teen has a mental health problem or is just being a teenager? The acronym FIND can be helpful.

• F=Frequency of concerning behaviors and moods/how often are they, 1-2 times a month or
  more days than not;
• I=Intensity of emotions and behavior, are reactions to stress, rules/limits, changes out of
  proportion to the event;
• N=Number of problem behaviors observed (irritability/anger, withdrawn, appetite, sleep);
  and
• D=Duration, how long have these changes been going on?
  

Need Help? Call The Behavioral Wellness Group at 440-392-2222 to talk with one of our Intake Specialists. We will listen to your concerns, ask some questions, and help you match with one of our mental health providers.

Frank R. Ezzo, Ph.D., ABPP, LLC
The Behavioral Wellness Group
8224 Mentor Ave #208 Mentor OH 44060
P: 440 392 2222 #852 F: 440 565 2349
fezzo@behavioralwellnessgroup.com
www.behavioralwellnessgroup.com