FORT LAUDERDALE – COVID just isn’t over, however the pandemic uncovered a troubling pattern – children’s mental health has suffered.
According to the Mental Health Alliance, in 2022, fifteen % of youngsters ages 12 to 17 reported experiencing not less than one main depressive episode. That was 306,000 greater than final 12 months.
“It’s bad. It’s a crisis” stated Katherine Lewis, a licensed household therapist at The Bougainvilla House, a nonprofit therapy middle in Ft Lauderdale that describes itself as a protected place for children and youth to develop emotionally.
To perceive why children’s mental health is in such a fragile state, CBS4 was given uncommon entry to the middle.
With their households’ permission, we spoke with youngsters who opened up about the struggles of rising up in the digital age with the compounded challenges of the pandemic.
“I grew up on technology,” stated 13-year-old Heidi Sanchez.
But therapists say all that know-how may very well be having a detrimental impact on her.
According to The Bougainvilla House administration, challenges children face are amplified on social media the place they’re “put under a microscope and visible for the world to see.”
Sanchez has social anxiousness, is coping with previous household battle, and has skilled despair. She stated she felt remoted throughout the faculty lockdown and handled the many ups and downs of working on-line
“I was in a Google class. I only had two courses and I was doing the work. Then I realized I didn’t scroll down the whole quarter and I was failing four other things,” stated Sanchez.
That created extra stress and anxiousness for her.
The Bougainvilla House stated in 2020, simply earlier than the pandemic hit, they have been treating 70 youngsters weekly. Now, on common, they deal with 185 youngsters a week, greater than double the earlier quantity.
They consider the enhance could be straight linked to social media and know-how
“I am glad more kids are coming in but these things were there before,” stated Lewis.
She believes social media and extreme display screen time can result in anxiousness and despair.
“Certainly it’s a double edge sword. Where it’s part of their culture, so they have the support of their friends online but it’s also a bigger source of pain. You see what’s out there. People are more successful than you. They have better grades so there are higher expectations,” stated Lewis.
Sanchez stated she observed huge modifications in her classmates when in-person studying resumed in school.
“I think the biggest impact was the amount of social skills we have. Because I noticed in class some kids will be yelling at the teacher instead of raising their hand,” she stated.
Sanchez stated when she’s not in class she’s in entrance of a display screen not less than 4 hours a day.
“I get affected by the way people perceive me. One time someone called me stupid and I took that to heart,” she stated.
Along with Sanchez, we requested two others in remedy about their social media habits and stressors.
Grace is 12 years previous and Jasmine is eighteen and has graduated highschool
This 12 months Jasmine stated she spends greater than six hours a day on social media.
“I think being in a group is better than during COVID when you were locked in a house,” she stated.
Jasmine, Grace, and Sanchez stated being out of faculty throughout the pandemic bothered them most. They stated they missed the construction of being in class, a motive to get going daily.
But all of them agreed that speaking on-line is extra snug than in individual
“There’s less risk so if you read something you don’t have to immediately offer a response,” stated Jasmine.
So what can dad and mom and academics do to fight this mental health disaster?
For starters, Lewis stated dad and mom can present an open house
“I think children knowing there is a space that they can talk about problems. They may not use it but it is healthy and healing in itself,” she stated, “Knowing there may be a house for that
Sanchez stated, “I used to lock myself in my room and not talk to my mom a lot.”
But she stated over time she’s discovered that listening is a prescription for higher mental health
“The best thing a parent can do is listen, that’s what most kids want. Sometimes listening is better than comfort,” she stated.
Those wanting extra information on the applications provided at The Bougainvilla House can name (954) 765-6283 or go to tbhcares.org.
