By AHTRA ELNASHAR

WASHINGTON (TND) — A growing share of America’s #youth is fighting an internal battle with #mentalhealthstruggles.

The number of #kids and #teenagers with #anxiety and #depression has shot up by about 30% in recent years, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, but many do not get the care they need.

Persistent feelings of sadness and #suicideattempts reported at higher rates among #girls and #LGBTQ #youth, which groups like the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness are drawing attention to this Pride month.

Political polarization, spending years apart during the #pandemic and more time online may be contributing to an existing trend of #teens spending less time together observed by researchers at the University of Michigan’s continuing study of #American #youth called Monitoring the Future.

#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/JamesMentalHealthArticleFind out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundationwebsite www.yourgiftoflife.org                            Order your copy of James Donaldson's latest book,#CelebratingYourGiftofLife:From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy

www.celebratingyourgiftoflife.com

Last month Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called attention to what he called an “epidemic of #loneliness and #isolation” and later issued an advisory about effects of #socialmedia on young people, but says more research is needed to understand it fully.

#Children are exposed to harmful content on #socialmedia, ranging from violent and sexual content, to #bullying and harassment. And for too many #children, #socialmedia use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends. We are in the middle of a national #youth #mentalhealth crisis, and I am concerned that #socialmedia is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address," Murthy said.

In recent months, dozens of lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and both chambers of Congress have introduced legislation to require #socialmedia companies to take more steps to protect #kids, limit harmful content and give #parents more controls and rights to take legal action against a platform. Though many aren’t waiting; hundreds of lawsuits have already been filed.

Medical experts are hard at work, too, to prevent crisis scenarios.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2023/06/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-youth-mentalhealth-and-loneliness-in-focus-this-summer/