The U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, at the White House in July.

The #UnitedStates surgeon general warned last month that young people are facing “devastating” #mentalhealtheffects as a result of the challenges experienced by their generation, including the #coronavirus #pandemic.

The message came as part of a rare public advisory from the nation’s top #physician, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, in a 53-page report noting that the #pandemic intensified #mentalhealthissues that were already widespread by the spring of 2020.

The report cited significant increases in self-reports of #depression, #anxiety and emergency-room visits for #mentalhealthchallenges. In the #UnitedStates, emergency room visits for #suicideattempts rose 51 percent for #adolescent #girls in early 2021 as compared with the same period in 2019. The figure rose 4 percent for #boys.

Globally, symptoms of #anxiety and #depression doubled during the #pandemic, the report noted. But #mentalhealthissues were already on the rise in the #UnitedStates, with emergency room visits related to #depression, #anxiety and related issues up 28 percent between 2011 and 2015.

The reasons are complex and not yet definitive. #Adolescent brain chemistry and relationships with friends and family are important factors, the report noted, as is a fast-paced media culture, which can leave some young minds feeling helpless.

“Young people are bombarded with messages through the media and popular culture that erode their sense of self-worth — telling them they are not good-looking enough, popular enough, smart enough or rich enough,” Dr. Murthy wrote in the report. “That comes as progress on legitimate, and distressing, issues like climate change, income inequality, #racial injustice, the opioid epidemic and gun violence feels too slow.”

The surgeon general’s advisory adds to a growing number of calls for attention and action around #adolescent #mentalhealth. In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the #American Academy of #Child and #Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association joined to declare “a national emergency” in youth #mentalhealth.

Although blame for #adolescent distress is often pinned on #socialmedia, the research suggests that screen time alone does not account for crisis. Rather, #socialmedia and other online activities act more to amplify an #adolescent’s existing mental state, causing some to feel more distress and others to experience enhanced feelings of connection.

Bonnie Nagel, a pediatric neuropsychologist at Oregon Health & Science University who treats and studies #adolescents, said that online interactions appear not to satisfy core needs for connection.

Recent research she co-authored shows that #loneliness is a key predictor in feelings of #depression and #suicidalideation.

“I don’t think it is genuine human connection when talking to somebody with a fake façade online,” Dr. Nagel said.

At the same time, screen time may be displacing activities known to be vital to physical and #mentalhealth, including sleep, exercise and in-person activity, research shows. The current generation of #youth express heightened levels of #loneliness — more than any other age group — despite spending countless hours connected over media.

Authorities and scientists widely acknowledge that there has been insufficient research into the underlying causes. Dr. Murthy’s advisory calls for more resources to be devoted to understanding and addressing #mentalhealthchallenges, and it urges a greater appreciation of #mentalhealth as a key factor in overall health.

“This is a moment to demand change,” the report concludes.

#JamesDonaldson notes:

Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.

Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.

Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.  #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle

Correction: Dec. 7, 2021

An earlier version of this article misstated the period in which #adolescent emergency room visits for #depression, #anxiety, and #behavioralchallenges rose by 28 percent. It was between 2011 and 2015, not from 2007 to 2018.

— Matt Richtel
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/02/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-the-pandemic-worsened-a-mentalhealthcrisis-for-young-people/