Estimated reading time: 3m 26s
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According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 6 million children ages 3 to 17 had a diagnosis of anxiety between 2016 and 2019. In that same period, almost 3 million children ages 3 to 17 had a diagnosis of depression.
(Source: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) |
For the Reckon Report in September, we’re focusing on education. Public education has long been a flashpoint for debate in America. But in the last few years, school board meetings, school libraries and curricula at all levels of education have faced attacks, especially at the state and local levels. Most recently, that challenged curricula have included climate change denial and numerous other controversial issues related to race, gender and evolution. Are the kids alright? Probably not. As the novelty of the 2023-24 school year wears off and routines get underway, students’ stressors across all levels of education are creeping in. Yes, we’re all familiar with the “regular” anxieties about major tests and projects, public speaking and athletic performance. But today’s youth have other major concerns that contribute to a more complicated picture of their mental health. For example, climate anxiety is on the rise among young people, and America’s schools are largely ill-equipped to help students navigate feelings like hopelessness and grief in matters of the climate crisis. The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic also can’t be underestimated. According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, “the pandemic may have worsened children’s mental health or exacerbated existing mental health issues.” In a perfect world, there would be school psychologists or some kind of counseling services available to students to help them cope with the turmoil of school and non-academic stressors. However, according to the National Association of School Psychologists, these types of professionals are in short supply. The NASP recommends a ratio of 500 students to 1 school psychologist, but their current data estimates the true ratio is more than 1200:1, with some states approaching a ratio of 5000:1. |
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(Image credit: Martha Irvine/Associated Press) |
As with almost every societal issue, the decline of children’s mental health across the country didn’t happen in a vacuum. The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and teenage mental health almost two years ago. In their declaration, they called for an increase in federal funding for mental health treatment, sustainable funding for school-based mental healthcare and enforcement of mental health parity laws. Some districts are stepping up to the plate, but without federal attention and funding, those district-level efforts remain limited in their interventions. |
(Photo credit:Seth Wenig/Associated Press) |
Much attention has been given to the healthcare system overall and its heavy burdens over the past few years. Nurses have been quitting in droves, and there’s a growing sentiment of our medical infrastructure being held together with duct tape and crossed fingers. Children’s healthcare is in an even more precarious position. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were roughly 33,400 pediatricians in the US compared to over 305,000 physicians. Children are already a vulnerable population by virtue of their age and lack of agency, and a lack of timely intervention in their mental health problems will only stand to exacerbate the issues on a massive scale in the coming years. |
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Got something you want us to dive into soon? Let me know at avelasquez@reckonmedia.com.
That's all I've got for this week!
Thanks for reckoning with me, Aria |
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