According to recent data from the CDC, mental health emergencies and suicide rates have increased dramatically through the pandemic, specifically for school-aged children.
Per the CDC, between March and October 2020, mental health emergency department visits for children 5 to 11 increased by 24%. For teens 12 to 17, emergency department visits related to mental health increased 31%.
What You Need To Know
- Per the CDC, between March and October 2020, mental health emergency department visits for children 5 to 11 increased by 24%
- For teens 12 to 17 emergency department visits related to mental health increased 31%
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between 10 and 24 years old
For Siena student Dan Lintz, chemistry formulas and math equations aren’t just random symbols and numbers.
“It’s cool understanding how the world works and how things hold together and why things do what they do,” says Dan.
The freshman thrives at finding his way to the answer. But when it came to his mental health, figuring things out wasn’t easy.
“About two years ago now, I had a serious mental breakdown where it just felt like everything was falling apart,” says Dan.
Constant anxiety, pressure from school and feeling isolated by the pandemic, Dan had been retreating. He says he never told anyone and was putting up a front; pretending he was fine.
“I was very lucky and I had a group of friends who, when they were concerned, called the correct people and got me to see the mental health services that I needed to, because they were worried that I was going to hurt myself,” says Dan. “Worst case situation is I would be dead. Which is a weird thing to recognize and admit, but it’s true.”
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for people between 10 and 24 years old. How did we get here? And how can we fix it? Therapist Beth Ehrichs is a co-host of the podcast “Ask! The Podcast” where she offers advice to teens and their parents.
“The behavior being modeled [to children] is self-medication and so the kids don’t know how to help themselves and parents are so at the end of their own rope with their own stuff that’s going on, they struggle to be able to support their kids,” says Ehrichs.
For parents, Ehrichs says having the capacity to listen is imperative. Depression or talk of suicide should never be discounted as dramatic.
“It can be tough,” says Ehrichs. “It’s a difficult conversation for a lot of people to have, but try and remember: if it’s choice between having a conversation or your kid dying, which do you choose?”
Ehrichs attributes the rise of teen mental health issues to social media, gender identity, climate change and the COVID-19 shut down.
“As a mom, it just breaks my heart because I just want to wrap my arms around these kids and be like, ‘you’re gonna be okay just hang in there,’” says Ehrichs. “’Give it another day, just one day at a time.’”
Dan’s thankful for that day his friends stepped in because now each day is an opportunity to face his feelings head on.
“I feel like it’s just important for people to understand that therapy is not just gonna be like, you go to one session and everything magically gets better. You got to work for a long time at it,” says Dan.
Unlike the equations he solves for school, there is no one formula or solution for good mental health. For Dan, it’s the right combination of elements: a proper diagnosis, medication and therapy.
“Even though it’s a struggle, you’ve got to do it if you want to be able to enjoy the rest of your life,” says Dan.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, there are many resources available to help. For those in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741).
For tips to support those in crisis and more information on suicide prevention and available support systems, please visit the National Institute of Mental Health’s webpage at www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention.
