Depression and suicide among children and teens are alarming in post-pandemic era | Opinion

It’s expected that, after two years of multiple disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, there would be repercussions on our collective mental health. As recent research has shown, it is heavily impacting children and teens.

Since 2009, rates of suicide among youth and young adults have been on the rise. Depression, hopelessness and suicide ideation among them are alarmingly widespread, a trend challenging families across the country, including in Miami-Dade County and the Keys.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It is more important than ever to become educated about mental health and warning signs of ill health and suicide risk. The isolation, stress and loss of parents and family members from COVID-19 exacerbated a worrisome trend.

The statistics are alarming. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that suicide was the second-leading cause of death for people between ages 10 and 34, and ninth among all age groups. In 2021, a CDC survey showed that about 20% of high school students and 40% of LGBTQ youth said they had contemplated suicide.

Although children and teens are disproportionately affected by this mental-health crisis, adults, particularly people of color, also are feeling the effects. Most mental illness goes untreated, especially in communities of color. In an advisory issued in December 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that young people are facing “devastating” mental-health effects as a result of the challenges experienced by their generation, including the pandemic.

Resources are available

We know that people do not know where to turn for help. The psychological and financial blows of the past two years have increased the urgency of outreach and education efforts at the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Miami. We also know that resources to help people who need support are stretched thin. But it is imperative that we work together as a community to raise our literacy about mental health, substance use and suicide prevention.

There are resources to help those in Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys, including those who are uninsured. Thriving Mind South Florida, funded in part by the Florida Department of Children and Families, is an outstanding organization that oversees an extensive network of mental health and substance-use providers, including facilities for those in crisis operated by Banyan Health Systems (Miami-Dade) and by Guidance Care Center (Monroe County).

In addition, NAMI Miami-Dade, the local affiliate of the largest peer-led mental-health organization in the U.S., offers mental health programs, such as support groups, peer mentoring, educational classes and outreach. From suicide prevention training for families and peer education and support, NAMI has a broad portfolio of programs to help us gain mental-health literacy. These programs are always offered at no cost to participants, led by trained peer-leaders and confidential.

Mental health is essential to our well-being. Individuals can recover from a mental-health condition and lead gratifying and balanced lives. Let’s work together to end the silence about mental health and help all who are struggling realize that they are not alone.

For more information and to learn about NAMI and community mental-health resources, join us on May 21 for the Miami-Dade Walk for Mental Health Awareness. More at NamiMiami.org. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255.

Kathy Coppola is executive director and Susan Racher is board president of NAMI Miami-Dade.

This story was originally published May 13, 2022 at 2:31 PM.