Watch for signs. Act. Save a life.

My Focus on Mental Health Awareness Month

For about a year recently, one of our three children experienced mental health challenges to a degree that we decided to pull him out of his environment and get professional help. The situation was terribly hard on our family, but by acting fast and effectively, we helped our son get through the dark moments and he is doing much better. We’re profoundly grateful for the understanding and help he received, so I’m comfortable sharing our story during May’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

As reported in The New York Times, 2019 saw a 13-percent increase in adolescents reporting a major depressive episode -- a 60-percent increase from 2007. Emergency room visits by children and adolescents also rose sharply for anxiety, mood disorders and self-harm. For people 10 to 24, suicide rates (which had remained stable from 2000 to 2007) increased nearly 60 percent by 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create the crisis in teen mental health, but it surely exacerbated it. The urgent situation we continue to face is detailed in the US Surgeon General Advisory on Youth Mental Health issued last year, with his recommendations:

• Recognize that mental health is an essential part of overall health.  
• Empower youth and their families to recognize, manage and learn from difficult emotions.  
• Ensure that every child has access to high-quality, affordable and culturally competent mental health care. 
• Support the mental health of children and youth in educational, community and childcare settings. And expand and support the early childhood and education workforce.  
• Address the economic and social barriers that contribute to poor mental health for young people, families and caregivers.
• Increase timely data collection and research to identify and respond to youth mental health needs more rapidly. 

As you interact with children and adolescents continue to look for these signs of a problem provided by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):

• Changes in school performance
• Excessive worry or anxiety, for instance fighting to avoid bed or school
• Hyperactive behavior
• Frequent nightmares
• Frequent disobedience or aggression
• Frequent temper tantrums

My message is simple: Don’t hesitate to reach out for help as soon as you believe a child – or anyone within your professional, personal or community circles -- is struggling with a mental health issue. Keep the mental health resources below (provided by the National Institute of Mental Health) easily accessible. And whether you are dealing with a mental health issue within your family, or you are concerned as a friend, neighbor or educator, face this crisis with transparency, compassion and hope.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255); En espa?ol 1-888-628-9454

Use Lifeline Chat on the web

Crisis Text Line

Text “HELLO” to 741741

Veterans Crisis Line

Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1 or text to 838255

Use Veterans Crisis Chat on the web

Disaster Distress Helpline

Call or text 1-800-985-5990

Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency.

Remember, call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger or go to the nearest emergency room.