Adolescent mental health is at risk

With the release of new reports, including a position by the 21st Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy, recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the harms of social media to children and adolescents, and teenage girls experiencing record levels of grief and suicide risk, record increases in suicide attempts among black children, according to Essence, their When it comes to mental health, our kids don’t seem to be doing well. In addition to making sure they succeed in school and eat healthy, it’s more important than ever for parents to prioritize their own and their children’s mental health.
“Before the corona pandemic, one in 5 children suffered from a mental disorder, indicating that there was a crisis at the time. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, we have seen increased levels of sadness and anxiety, especially among adolescents.” Teens are the most vulnerable during the pandemic, says Janine Dominguez, PhD, PhD, at the Child Mind Institute. “The epidemic led to social isolation during their development, and we know that social isolation can lead to depression,” he explains. “We know that social media and online comparison and identification with an ideal body image greatly affect adolescent mental health,” she adds. “Young people, especially young adults, need our help,” he says. “We know that mental disorders are real, common and treatable.”

“It’s important to remove the stigma around talking about mental health, and if we don’t do that, people will continue to suffer in silence and be afraid to seek help when they need it.” He says, “The fear of being vulnerable prevents us from deepening our bonds with others, which leads to further isolation,” noting, “Vulnerability is necessary, makes us more comfortable, and shows us that we can relate to others. Through shared experiences we can even connect on a deeper level.” She advises parents to keep the conversation open, listen well, and be able to validate their feelings and emotions.
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