The advisory acknowledges that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health issues were significant for young people in the U.S. and around the worldwide, and they have only gotten worse.
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Pre-pandemic: 20% of children ages 3 to 17 were dealing with a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder.
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During the pandemic:
- Symptoms of anxiety and depression doubled among youth globally.
- In early 2021, emergency room visits in the U.S. for suspected suicide attempts increased by 51% for adolescent girls and 4% for adolescent boys compared to the same time in 2019.
The Surgeon General reminds all of us of the important role we play in addressing these issues:
“Supporting the mental health of children and youth will require a whole-of-society effort to address long standing challenges, strengthen the resilience of young people, support their families and communities, and mitigate the pandemic’s mental health impacts.”
-Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
When a child is struggling, it impacts every family member.
Let’s come together as a community to support our children’s mental health and #TalkAboutIt.
We know it's not easy to reach out for support, but once you take that first step, you'll realize you are not alone. Knowing others are walking in your shoes can make all the difference.
