Thread by @EthnicMediaSvc

🗣️Mark it on your calendars. Friday, 4/15 at 11am PST , we'll discuss what parents and others can do to avert another “pandemic,” that of future adults with serious emotional and mental disorders. Follow the convo @EthnicMediaSVC ethnicmediaservices.org/media-briefing…
@KidsPartnership @dr_shaps

🕐In less than an hour we'll be discussing a new CDC report on the #mentalhealth challenges confronting today's youth with @KidsPartnership, @dr_shaps and Dr. Myo Thwin Myint of Tulane University. Follow here @EthnicMediaSvc or via FB Live: fb.me/e/2X8QOJ1Nk

Welcome to EMS's weekly Friday media briefing. Today we are discussing the recent CDC report on the state of youth mental health. You can follow the discussion via FB Live here: fb.me/e/2X8QOJ1Nk

Among the report's findings: 55.1 percent of high school students described suffering emotional abuse, 44.2 percent reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness and 9% attempted suicide. #mentalhealth cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/7…

"The day we read this report, we knew this was a topic we had to explore in greater depth," says EMS Director Sandy Close, calling the data a "shadow #pandemic."

The results of the survey of more than 7,000 high school students are "sobering," says our moderator @PilarMarrero

Our first speaker today is @AngelaMSWinCA, policy director for @KidsPartnership. What we're seeing now in young people is not an anomaly but is in fact a crisis that has been building since before the pandemic.

Nearly 50% of youth impaired with a depressive episode did not receive treatment, and this is before the pandemic, says @AngelaMSWinCA

Black and LatinX children are 14% less likely to be treated for their depression. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for native youth, and girls across all races planned suicide more than boys.

Immigration policies, including family separation, have had a damaging impact on youth mental health, according to data from @KidsPartnership

While #Covid19 was a global trauma, community trauma is not felt evenly across communities. Gun violence, aggressive policing, family separations and rising racial tensions all contribute to the worsening mental health of young people, explains @AngelaMSWinCA

"We need to focus on reducing these negative experiences, we also need to focus on positive experiences and promoting positive mental heath in our young people.

In response, @KidsPartnership, in partnership with the National Black Women’s Justice Institute (NBWJI), launched the Hope, Healing, and Health Collective.childrenspartnership.org/campaigns/the-…

"Positive racial/ethnic identity is fundamental to youth's mental health and well being," says @AngelaMSWinCA. "Civid engagement in particular can be a #mentalhealth intervention.

There is such an overwhelming need for clinical and non clinical mental health services... we are barely scratching the surface, says @AngelaMSWinCA.

Our next speaker is @dr_shaps, Pediatrician & Chief Medical Affairs Officer, @AltaMedHealthS. "I have seen a huge amount of kids that have lost a part of their lives. What we saw over the past 2 yrs has hurt our community in a big way."

Depression and anxiety is real in our communities, says @dr_shaps. Sometimes it's easy to follow our check list as doctors, but a lot of our communities don't have the resources they need.

"This was a very bright patient. He complained of tummy aches, headaches... he had lost 3 family members due to the #pandemic. He was horrible depressed."

This is not an isolated case, says @dr_shaps. "Kids are crying out for help, and the parents are as well."

"At least 50% of the patients I see were directly harmed by Covid, either they had contracted the virus or lost someone close to them," says @dr_shaps. "All the money flowing now... we have to make sure it is used to address this issue."

Our next speaker is Dr. Myo Thwin Myint, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, @TulaneMedicine. "We are making progress in raising awareness and de-stigmatizing mental health...

but there are still challenges to bringing care, and these challenges are being exacerbated in some states by legislation that increases strain and pressure on youth, especially marginalized young people.

The Federal Govt has recognized the mental health crisis. What we hope is that investment will follow that recognition.

School based mental health programs are a vital tool, says Dr. Myint. childrenspartnership.org/research/advan…

Report from the Surgeon General on the state of youth mental health: hhs.gov/sites/default/…

Long wait times to see clinicians points to the very real work force shortage. In many parishes in New Orleans, for example, there are few to no child psychologists, says Dr. Myint.

"It has been heartbreaking to see," says Dr. Myint of recent laws passed such as the #DontSayGay" law in Florida. "We know LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk of suicide."

When these youth see policymakers not accepting of their identity, it can lead to depression, suicide. It becomes and added stressor, increasing their sense of isolation.

We are disappointed and sad, given all the challenges we face, that this is the focus, says Dr. Myint.

Our final speaker is Sydney McKinney, ED of the National Black Women's Justice Institute. "For us, addressing the mental health of black women and girls is vital to preventing them from coming into contact with the juvenile justice system.

Youth impacted by detention, 4 of 5 girls are diagnosed with a mental health need, and black girls account for 43% of young girls in detention.

During the pandemic, @NBWJInstitute conducted a survey of mental health providers. "The pandemic exacerbated the mental health needs of black girls impacted by foster care and the juvenile and legal system."

The pandemic also created new mental health challenges, further isolating foster youth from adults, family and caregivers. Foster parents had created stringent regulations for foster youth, out of fear of possible contagion.

The same happened for youth visiting their parents. Because of the pandemic, their biological families were fearful of having them in the house because they lived in congregate settings. There was a lot of anxiety.

Young people in foster care were experiencing a different kind of alienation because of the pandemic, says McKinney.

Report on the mental health of black girls from @NBWJInstitute: nbwji.org/_files/ugd/0c7…

As young people return to schools there has been a spike in gender based violence, notes McKinney. "The time young people were at home... they forgot how to interact with folks in a safe and caring way."

For black girls, they experience sexual harassment and gender based violence more than any other group.

In this moment, we also need to think about teachers' wellness, says McKinney, speaking about the stretched capacity of our education system when it comes to addressing mental health among youth.

Wellness and self care is the first thing we can help teachers with in this very difficult time, says McKinney.

@AngelaMSWinCA references Pres. Biden's action plan to address the mental health crisis: whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…

Has the pandemic helped to reduce the stigma of #mentalhealth, asks @PilarMarrero. "Stigma is still a large issue," says @AngelaMSWinCA. Family stigma and stigma in the community.

But young people themselves are leading the way in dismantling that stigma. They felt more comfortable talking about these issues with each other.

We need to translate "medicalese" into language that our communities can do something with, now. It is up to us to create conversations, resources, and have an open conversation, says @dr_shaps.

I would call on local media to hold officials accountable... keep asking the questions, ensure that investment is made this the care that is needed, says Dr. Myint.

Elevate conversations that are gender and culturally affirming, says McKinney. Shine a light on the resources that are available. This is what communities need.

Thanks to all our wonderful speakers for this critically important conversation. Visit ethnicmediaservices.org for follow-up reporting on this and past briefings.

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