BY SINA M. SAFAHIEH, M.D.

Alarming headlines have filled the news this past week. First, there was a chilling exposé of a website that encourages #teenagers to take their own lives. Then Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri’s testimony before Congress failed to articulate safeguards for #teens’ #mentalhealth, despite research that links the #socialmedia site to #teen #depression, #anxiety and #suicidalideation.

There is no doubt that the nation’s #youth are hurting. The one-two punch of #pandemic-related #isolation and #socialmedia exploiting children’s vulnerabilities has scarred our #teens and young #adults.

A recent advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General on the #youth #mentalhealthcrisis warns of worsening #depression, #anxiety and suicides among our #adolescent population that was already experiencing a major national crisis prior to #COVID-19. The number of U.S. emergency room visits for suspected #suicideattempts by #teen #girls jumped during the #COVID-19 #pandemic by as much as 51%.

Here in Orange County, we are experiencing this firsthand.

The California Department of Health reported that the number of #suicides among people age 18 and under rose in 2020. In Orange County as of September, 11 young people took their lives, far surpassing the four-year average of eight suicides.

#COVID-19 has precipitated a #mentalhealthcrisis, fueled by #socialisolation, collapse of routines and structure, and increased uncertainty about the future. All of us, whether young or old, have developed disease fatigue, which is exacerbated by continuous contact and exposure to potential triggers without respite.

#Mentalhealthissues are medical issues and need to be treated as such. It’s critical — now more than ever — to take #mentalhealth seriously and get our #teens the help they deserve.

#Parents can do their part by keeping an open mind, asking questions in an open-ended fashion and remaining nonjudgmental, non-critical, and non-accusatory. Timing is everything; find the right time and place to have this important and potentially emotionally charged conversation and remain #patient to revisit this conversation at a later time and date if necessary.

Emphasize that your concerns are coming from a place of love, warmth and support and don’t expect #teens to open up immediately about how they feel.

#James Donaldson 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

Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,

Celebrating Your Gift of Life:

From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

http://www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Many times, #teens do not feel comfortable sharing these potentially deep seated issues with family members and may be more open and transparent with a third party like a #therapist, #psychologist, #pediatrician or #psychiatrist.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

There are resources available in many communities, including through local, county and state departments. #Parents can find various directories online for #mental providers and should reach out to their respective insurance companies to obtain a list of providers, whether #therapist, #psychologist or #psychiatrists. Depending on the need or severity of symptoms, #parents may need to inquire about higher levels of care, including intensive outpatient programs, partial hospitalization programs, inpatient psychiatric units and residential treatment centers including therapeutic boarding school, wilderness programs and dual diagnosis (drug/alcohol combined in conjunction with primary #mentalhealthissues).

The ASPIRE #adolescent intensive outpatient program at Hoag, one of the few programs that has remained open in person in Orange County, has seen a significant rise in admissions due to the unnatural demands of this global health crisis.

No doubt, this has been a traumatic time for this generation, but I have hope for #teens. They are much more resilient and adaptable than we realize, but they have much better odds of flourishing and persevering in this time of crisis if they get the attention and support they deserve.

Dr. Sina Safahieh, #child and #adolescent #psychiatrist at Hoag.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-taking-teen-mentalhealth-seriously/