Shocking CDC statistics reveal extent of mental health crisis among children in US

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By Taylor Penley, FOX News

Jun 18, 2023 | 4:57 PM

The dismal figures released Tuesday by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics showed that in 2021, 15 percent of children ages 5 to 17 in the United States had recently received treatment for a mental health condition, and growing numbers. Concerns about the severity of the country’s mental health crisis continue to grow.

Adolescents have the worst numbers in the data summary, with 18.9% of children aged 12 to 17 receiving treatment, including therapy, counseling and prescription drugs, compared to 11.3% of younger children. ing.

The data also showed that white children were the racial group most likely to receive mental health treatment, and urban children were more likely to receive treatment than children in rural areas.

The numbers are part of a recent trend that warns of dwindling mental well-being due to a confluence of problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic, social media and other environmental stressors that create disaster. backed by

Gregory Jantz, Ph.D., a psychologist and teenage depression expert, evaluated the data in an email to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, adding another alarming statistic is that a shocking number of young people need help. He said it showed that he was not getting care.

“According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 18- to 25-year-olds (30.6%) are the most likely to experience a mental health condition. According to Mental Health America, 60.3% of young people with major depression 10% did not receive mental health treatment,” he wrote.

“If American children (ages 5 to 17) do not get the mental health care they need, the need will persist and continue into adulthood. However, it does not mean that access to the service will increase automatically.”

He added that a shortage of mental health providers could exacerbate the crisis.

“The number of children accessing mental health services is increasing, but there are not enough specialists to provide what they need. It is the second leading cause of death for children in the United States under the age of 12.”

“Currently, there is a general shortage of mental health professionals who can provide care. NAMI says there is one provider for every 350 people who need services.”

Jantz said parents seeking mental health treatment for their children should seek out health care providers who have the necessary qualifications to provide appropriate care for their children.

He also encouraged parents to seek input from other adults close to their children if they are unsure whether to worry about their child’s mental health.

Even more concerning, just a few months ago, the Journal of Pediatrics analyzed Medicaid data and found that 26% of children visiting the emergency department for mental health concerns had multiple visits within six months. discovered.

The study confirmed reports of an increasing number of parents taking their children to the ER because of mental health concerns.

Dr. Jennifer Hoffman, Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital Chicago’stold Fox News Digital at the time that the purpose of bringing children to the ER for treatment was to establish ongoing treatment to address the problem.

She added that one of the problems with treatment is that most people who seek treatment fail to follow up.

Between March and November 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health emergency room visits increased by 31% among children ages 12 to 17, according to CDC data. It has been shown to increase by 24% in children aged 5 to 11 years.

This crisis is separate, including separate CDC data showing that depression and anxiety have increased over time, with approximately 5.8 million children currently suffering from anxiety and approximately 2.7 million suffering from depression. ugly head in the shape of

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy sees a similar mental health problem affecting millions of people across the United States, a problem he describes as a “loneliness epidemic” with potentially fatal consequences. sounded the alarm about

“I know loneliness is a common emotion that many people experience. It’s like hunger or thirst. It’s the feeling your body sends when you lack what it needs to survive.” Mercy said.

““There are millions of people in America struggling in the shadows, and it’s not right,” he continued. “That is why we are issuing this recommendation to end the struggle that so many are experiencing.”

Marcy published an 81-page recommendation on the subject last month, warning that the physical dangers of loneliness are comparable to those of smoking.