It's been a year since the word "COVID" became part of our national vocabulary. Lives have been lost, families have struggled to survive, and our collective mental health has suffered in unimaginable ways. We have all felt grief, uncertainty, and stress -- and our nation's youth are no exception.
A new analysis from FAIR Health found that teenagers' demand for care for mental health skyrocketed last year amid the pandemic, even as their need for medical care in general declined. The percentage of all medical claim lines that were for intentional self-harm nearly doubled in March and April, compared to the same months in 2019. Claim lines for overdoses increased by 94.91% in March and 119.31% in April.
From April to October 2020, the CDC found that hospitals across the U.S. saw a 24% increase in the proportion of mental health emergency visits for children ages five to 11, and a 31% increase for children ages 12 to 17. And yes, mental health emergencies include suicide attempts.
These are just a few examples from a slew of recent statistics that paint a troubling picture. The situation in front of us warrants action, not just wishful thinking.
It is now the job of every parent, educator, and caregiver to help mitigate the long-term consequences of the trauma kids are living through. During my many years as a teacher, I saw first-hand how a child's mental health impacts their ability to learn and grow -- not only in the classroom, but in life.
When kids are struggling internally, their feelings often manifest in emotional outbursts, problems engaging with peers, difficulty paying attention, and much more. This does not bode well in an environment where structure and cooperation are imperative to success. The domino effect of mental health challenges can cost a child years in critical developmental milestones.
Even before the pandemic hit, many students were suffering from mental health conditions, which are only compounded for those who experience trauma from racial disparities, poverty, food insecurity, abuse, and more. From 2009 to 2017, rates of depression increased by more than 60% among kids ages 14 to 17. Additionally, the rate of young adults with suicidal thoughts, plans, attempts, and deaths by suicide increased from 7% to 10.3%. COVID-19 has fueled the fire in myriad ways.
The good news is, through strategies like social-emotional learning and integrated systems of care for mental health that meet students where they are, we have the power to improve educational, emotional, and health outcomes for everyone.
But individual teachers can't do this job alone. Helping our youth requires a systemic approach in which schools get the support they need -- from our government and from community partners -- to identify students' needs and intervene early, while neuroplasticity is at its peak.
States must create their own roadmaps for success. Fortunately, there are models to serve as guides. For example, New Jersey's "Road Forward" initiative provides $1.2 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds to school districts across the state for students and educators. This includes a $30 million mental health grant that will help school districts facilitate services and invest resources in a way that will best serve the unique needs of their community.
Our federal government has a role to play as well. Representatives Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) and John Katko (R-N.Y.) introduced the Mental Health Services for Students Act, which would create a $200 million grant program to fund mental health services in schools. If signed into law, this would be a major step in the right direction.
Additionally, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will provide billions in emergency funding for schools -- though they could use the funds in a wide variety of ways that don't necessarily include student mental health. Both pieces of federal legislation are promising and urgently needed. However, we can do even more to properly address the unique widespread trauma of COVID-19.
The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) recently called on Congress to prioritize young people's healing by making a targeted $7.5 billion investment -- over and above the $4 billion already proposed -- in the mental health of youth ages 16 to 25. The Kennedy Forum agrees that such an investment would be commensurate with the dramatic increase in need and should support youth mobile crisis response, peer support, expanded access to telehealth, culturally responsive Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) screening, and more.
With a little strategy and a lot of dedication, we can absolutely make a difference. Addressing the mental health of our nation's youth must be a priority, not an afterthought.
Amy Kennedy, MS, is education director of The Kennedy Forum and a former public-school teacher.