Surgeon General Warns of Youth Mental Health Crisis (Published 2021) – ryan

The United States surgeon general on tuesday warned that young people are facing “devastating” mental health effects as a result of the challenges experienced by their generation, including the coronavirus pandemic.

The message came as part of a rare public advisory from the nation’s top physician, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, in a 53-Page Report Noting that the Pandemic Intensified Mental Health issues that were already widespread by the jump of 2020.

The report cited significant increases in self-reports of depression and anxiety along with more emergency room visits for mental health issues. In the United States, Emergency Room Visits for Suicide ATTEMPTS Rose 51 percent for adolescent girls in early 2021 as compared to the same period in 2019. The Figure Rose 4 percent for Boys.

Globally, symptoms of anxiety and depression doubled during the pandemic, the report noted. But Mental Health issues were already on the rise in the united states, with emergency room visits related to depression, anxiety and similar conditions up 28 percent between 2011 and 2015.

The reasons are complex and not yet definitive. Adolescent Brain Chemistry and Relationships With Friends and Family Play A Role, The Report Noted, As Does A Fast-Paced Media Culture, which can leave some Young minds feeling helpless.

“Young people are bombarded with messages through the media and popular culture that erode their sense of self-Worth-score them they are not good-looking enough, popular enough, smart enough or rich enough,” Dr. Murthy wrote in the report. “That comes as progress on legitimate, and distressing, issues like Climate Change, income inequality, racial injustice, the opiid epidemic and gun violence feel too slow.”