(NEW YORK) — The #pandemic has taken a toll on all Americans’ #mentalhealth, but now, a new study from the #CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention reports that more than 1 in 3 #highschool #teens dealt with poor #mentalhealth during the #pandemic, and 1 in 5 reported considering #suicide.

“Our study examined how recent #adversechildhoodexperiences, or #ACEs, are contributing to poor #mentalhealth and #suicidalbehaviors among #adolescents,” said Dr. Kayla Anderson, senior study author and expert with #NationalCenterforInjuryandPreventionControl.

Over 4,000 #teens participated in a 100-question online survey. Nearly 3 in 4 #teens reported at least one adverse #childhood experience — such as #bullying, loss of a #parent or violence — during the #pandemic.

Prior research has established a link between adverse #childhood experiences and an increased risk of chronic health conditions, changes in #behavior, #depression, #anxiety and #suicidalbehaviors.

Researchers asked #teens if they had experienced electronic #bullying, #teen dating violence, #caregiver loss, food insecurity, sexual violence or emotional abuse during the #pandemic.

#Students who said they had experienced one or two of these events were twice as likely to report poor #mentalhealth and three to six times as likely to report suicidal #behaviors. Meanwhile, #students who reported experiencing four or more of these negative experiences were 25 times more likely to report a #suicideattempt.

Experts said the changes in teen’s #mentalhealth may be related to stressors from the #pandemic.

“With #COVID-related threats to health, events in the news, and the accessibility of information online, it’s hard to insulate yourself from the #stress, and has been even harder to find stability, support and connection — which is what teens need most at this stage of their lives,” said Dr. Neha Chaudhary, chief medical officer at BeMe Health and #child and #adolescent #psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical #School.

Because #suicide has been the second-most common cause of death among those ages 10 to 14, #mentalhealthprofessionals say more research is needed to address the influence the #pandemic has had on #mentalhealth in this vulnerable population.

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Ways to help boost teens’ #mentalhealth

#Adults can help #teens and #children by creating safe environments free of #bullying, online harassment and violence, according to #mentalhealthexperts.

“#Teen #mentalhealth has become a public health emergency, and it’s time we started taking real, actionable steps to do something about it,” said Chaudhary.

According to experts, anyone can be an advocate for #adolescent #mentalhealth.

“We must connect struggling #adolescents to timely, effective care. Young people need all of the support we can give them,” Anderson said.

If you are experiencing suicidal, #substanceuse or other #mentalhealthcrises, please call or text the #988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You will reach a trained crisis #counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2022/11/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-study-1-in-3-teens-reported-poor-mentalhealth-during-pandemic/