Exploring youth mental health
Understanding the crisis of youth mental health in America.
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Understanding the crisis of youth mental health in America.
The youth mental health crisis in America has been on the rise for years. But since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, it’s only gotten worse. From 2019 to 2020, mental health-related emergency room visits increased 31% in children ages 12 to 17.1 In the same year, suicide was reported as the second-leading cause of death among children ages 10 to 14.2
Even more recently, in 2023, 50% of young adults (ages 18–24) reported symptoms of anxiety or depression,3 while more than 15% of children ages 12 to 17 reported suffering from at least one major depressive episode in the past year. More than sixty percent of those children didn’t get treatment.4
Alarming, right? It’s even more so when you consider that, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, mental health is the leading cause of poor life outcomes in young people. And this fact is especially true for children in marginalized or diverse communities.
If you’re the parent of a child or adolescent or know someone who is, there are some important things to know when dealing with youth mental health.
While it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly why the mental health crisis has risen over the years, there are several factors that can affect a child’s mental health.5 These include:
While it’s common for children to go through behavioral or emotional problems as they age, often, these issues will resolve with time. If they don’t, there might be something else going on. Here are some critical warning signs to look for:
Remember, you know your child or loved one best. If you sense something is off, or if you’re child comes to you for help, take it seriously. Here are some ways to stay supportive:
Be there to listen: Check in with your child regularly and make sure they feel safe and supported with their feelings. They should know there’s no judgement and that they always have you as a listening ear.
Stay involved: Children often feel most supported and valued when parents and loved ones take an active interest in their lives. Encouraging their interests and being active in their lives could also help you spot problems in their behavior and emotions easier.
Ask questions: If you suspect something may be going on with your child or loved one, have a conversation with them. But give them plenty of space to talk. You can ask questions like:
Educate yourself: For children and adolescents to get the right help and ensure their needs are met, parents and loved ones need to be educated. Parents who understand mental health, what the signs are, and how to be a helpful advocate will likely have more success navigating the journey.
Get professional support: Part of being educated is also understanding when professional help is needed. Don’t be afraid to seek out mental health professionals who are trained to help you and your child manage treatment.
Our commitment to tackling the mental health crisis is a long-term one. Part of that commitment is helping ensure members and the community are educated and have access to mental health resources.
Here are some resources you can try:
Disclaimers:
*meQuilibrium is an independent company contracted by Florida Blue to provide health and wellness services and resources to members. This benefit is available to Florida Blue members age 18 and older. Eligibility is limited to members with an individual or family plan, an individual or family ACA plan and members with coverage from their fully insured group employer health plan.
**Florida Blue has entered into an arrangement with Wellframe to provide members with care decision support services, information and other services. All decisions that require or pertain to independent professional medical/clinical judgement or training, or the need for medical services, are solely the member’s responsibility and the responsibility of their physicians and other health care providers. Wellframe is an independent company that provides online services to Florida Blue members through the BlueforMe app.
***Florida Blue contracts with Lucet to provide behavioral health services.
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emergency Department Visits for Suspected Suicide Attempts
2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Changes in Suicide Rates — United States, 2019 and 2020
3Kaiser Family Foundation: The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use
4Mental Health America: 2022 State of Mental Health in America
5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Surgeon General Youth Mental Health Advisory