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mahatmakanejeeves

(56,874 posts)
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 11:55 AM Dec 2021

Surgeon general warns of emerging youth mental health crisis in rare public advisory

Source: Los Angeles Times

CALIFORNIA

Surgeon general warns of emerging youth mental health crisis in rare public advisory

BY HOWARD BLUME, MELISSA GOMEZ
DEC. 7, 2021 4 AM PT

Citing mounting evidence of ongoing harm, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy on Tuesday issued a public health advisory on the mental health challenges confronting youth, a rare warning and call to action to address what he called an emerging crisis exacerbated by pandemic hardships.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety have doubled during the pandemic, with 25% of youth experiencing depressive symptoms and 20% experiencing anxiety symptoms, according to Murthy’s 53-page advisory. There also appear to be increases in negative emotions or behaviors such as impulsivity and irritability — associated with conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.

And, in early 2021, emergency department visits in the United States for suspected suicide attempts were 51% higher for adolescent girls and 4% higher for adolescent boys compared to the same time period in early 2019, according to research cited in the advisory.

“It would be a tragedy if we beat back one public health crisis only to allow another to grow in its place,” Murthy said in a preface to the advisory. “Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real, and they are widespread. But most importantly, they are treatable, and often preventable.”

{snip}

Read more: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-12-07/surgeon-general-advisory-youth-mental-health-crisis-looms

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Surgeon general warns of emerging youth mental health crisis in rare public advisory (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Dec 2021 OP
pandemic anxiety to be sure, but also MissMillie Dec 2021 #1
A sense that they're growing up in a world who's climate is going to be FUCKED in very short order Hugh_Lebowski Dec 2021 #2
Depression and anxiety? Are there that many people who would choose to tune into depressing Fox? ffr Dec 2021 #3
The young people aren't so much "watching TV" BumRushDaShow Dec 2021 #6
Yes, I was thinking the same thing PatSeg Dec 2021 #7
They don't even listen to "the radio" BumRushDaShow Dec 2021 #8
Yes, it all happened so quickly, PatSeg Dec 2021 #10
That is ignorance sarisataka Dec 2021 #11
That's such a stunning rise in suicide attempts in adolescent girls. JudyM Dec 2021 #4
A lot of this is being enhanced and magnified due to "social media" BumRushDaShow Dec 2021 #5
50 years of MAGA-GOP efforts,,,,,, Cryptoad Dec 2021 #9
This is a very serious issue sarisataka Dec 2021 #12

MissMillie

(38,450 posts)
1. pandemic anxiety to be sure, but also
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 12:07 PM
Dec 2021

the fact that the grown-ups can't seem to get together on anything.

The kids are growing up w/o a sense of security.

 

Hugh_Lebowski

(33,643 posts)
2. A sense that they're growing up in a world who's climate is going to be FUCKED in very short order
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 12:21 PM
Dec 2021

And the fact that the 'adults' really aren't doing shit about it ... probably plays at least a bit of a role.

ffr

(22,644 posts)
3. Depression and anxiety? Are there that many people who would choose to tune into depressing Fox?
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 12:25 PM
Dec 2021

Here's a solution. Turn the damn TV that's blaring inside your comfy home 24/7 and set the radio to music. Problem solved.

BumRushDaShow

(127,255 posts)
6. The young people aren't so much "watching TV"
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 01:19 PM
Dec 2021

but are "watching" (streaming) YouTube and TikTok and Instagram videos and all the nonsense that gets generated there.

PatSeg

(46,773 posts)
7. Yes, I was thinking the same thing
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 01:36 PM
Dec 2021

It is more likely their addiction to social media and their smartphones.

BumRushDaShow

(127,255 posts)
8. They don't even listen to "the radio"
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 01:54 PM
Dec 2021

they stream music with Pandora or whatever subscription channels are out there. Some of my younger nieces and nephews used to stare at the all-in-one compact stereo (or a CD boombox) that would get pulled out at family get-togethers/bbqs like it was something that fell out of a UFO. Had to get some bluetooth speakers so they could stream whatever it was they listened too.

PatSeg

(46,773 posts)
10. Yes, it all happened so quickly,
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 02:28 PM
Dec 2021

it is definitely a culture shock for older generations. So many young people can't even sit through an entire movie. They are so over stimulated and addicted to the instant gratification that comes with "likes" and "shares". I can't even imagine how most of them graduate from high school, as they have no real attention span. It is like some bizarre futuristic dystopia, except it is NOW.

sarisataka

(18,197 posts)
11. That is ignorance
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 02:29 PM
Dec 2021

Bordering on criminal.

You don't fix anxiety and depression by simply listening to music.

JudyM

(29,122 posts)
4. That's such a stunning rise in suicide attempts in adolescent girls.
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 12:31 PM
Dec 2021

Clearly some social intervention is needed (and quick further research into causation) … the parents aren’t able to manage their daughters’ emotional needs during this time.

BumRushDaShow

(127,255 posts)
5. A lot of this is being enhanced and magnified due to "social media"
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 01:15 PM
Dec 2021

and so much fake and destructive crap that is being circulated.

Cryptoad

(8,254 posts)
9. 50 years of MAGA-GOP efforts,,,,,,
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 02:24 PM
Dec 2021

to eliminate the teaching of any Critical Thinking from our public schools is now bearing its fruit. We are becoming a Nation of Idiots........

sarisataka

(18,197 posts)
12. This is a very serious issue
Tue Dec 7, 2021, 02:35 PM
Dec 2021

I still do some part-time work for a funeral home. The main service type I am called for is a young person's suicide.

It is much more than turning off the TV or social media. Kids today are under more and different pressures than those of us who grew up in past decades.

If you have or know of a young person with depression or who has made offhand jokes about their dead- take it seriously. They signs are often subtle and the life you save may be their's.

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