Many people think the youth mental health crisis started during the pandemic, but the US Surgeon General says the pandemic only made the crisis worse than it was before.
Speaking at the American Psychological Association (APA) Annual Convention in Minneapolis, he offered some startling numbers. “36%…that’s the percentage of high school students before the pandemic who said they felt persistently sad and helpless,” says Dr. Vivek Murthy. “That number, by the way, is now 44%.”
Even more sobering, it says there was a 57% increase in the youth suicide rate in the decade. prior to the pandemic
“This is a crisis,” he told convention attendees in a forum titled “Children Aren’t Alright,” moderated by Soledad O’Brien. “But I’m also hopeful that we can finally use this moment to do something about it. We have already begun to make large investments on the federal side in treatment, expanding access to treatment. Train more mental health providers.”
Statewide, the Minnesota legislature approved $93 million for a variety of mental health programs for youth and adults.
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy speaks at the American Psychological Association (KSTP) forum in Minneapolis.
“We want young people around the world to know that if you are struggling you are not alone,” he told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS in an interview after the forum. “Help is available. Now people can call 988, for example, and get a trained mental health counselor who can talk to them.”
Above all, Dr. Murthy wants young people to know that they are not alone in dealing with mental health issues.
“We want people to not feel ashamed to come forward and ask for help because all of us struggle at some point in our lives and there is no shame in that.”
After the convention in Minneapolis, Dr. Murthy addressed student athletes from the University of Minnesota.
