A man struggles with mental health due to the pandemic. Since March 2020, mental health issues among
teenagers have become more prominent, and in order to account for this, school districts nationwide should consider new support resources in public schools to better aid students. Illustration by Lillian Sams
Due to the pandemic, many mental health experts expect depression and anxiety rates in teens to rise. Now is the time to make structural changes in the U.S. government that will improve access to care.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the likelihood that
teenagers will develop depression and other mental health disorders due to increased amounts of isolation and a lack of social interaction.
“People are starting to find notable increases in depression and anxiety for teens. Some estimates suggest about a 20% increase in symptoms over the last year,” University of Georgia assistant professor of psychology Dr. Katie Ehrlich said. “If you were just a little bit depressed pre-COVID, you’re more likely to be moderately depressed during this phase.”
In 1946, President Harry Truman passed the National Mental Health Act, which created the National Institute of Mental Health and put government funds into research and treatment for those deemed mentally “ill.”
The original intention behind the act was to help veterans suffering from the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) effects of World War II, but it was later modified to reach a broader spectrum of patients. This was the first time mental health in the United States was treated as a serious issue.
Although this was a step in the right direction for the United States, the issue should be revisited as teenage mental health has become a growing topic of discussion throughout the pandemic.
Although this was a step in the right direction for the United States, the issue should be revisited as teenage mental health has become a growing topic of discussion throughout the pandemic.
Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that depression could affect one in two people following the pandemic, which would be a major spike from the currently reported one in six.
This dramatic change requires action from the government to provide support to its citizens struggling with mental health disorders.
The first step to improving teenagers’ access to mental health care is by making support more readily available through public schools. Additionally, schools should find new ways to target students who are not seeking the help they need on their own.
While the government already supports struggling teenagers through the availability of school counselors, a 2016 study from the University of New Hampshire reports that only 17.8% of public schools meet the American School Counselor Association‘s recommended 250:1 student-to-counselor ratio. Each public school in the United States should be required to meet this recommendation.
Furthermore, schools should reimagine the role of mental health access, urging students to seek help not only for school conflicts, but for issues at home, as well. School counselors are already strained in the responsibilities they have, from counseling students with academics, college admissions, and scheduling classes. Schools should prioritize the hiring of more counselors that focus solely on meeting the mental health needs of all students.
Schools should prioritize the hiring of more counselors that focus solely on meeting the mental health needs of all students.
To aid students who require more help, schools should partner with mental health organizations that are able to pair students with professionals. Due to issues at home or financial need, their school may be a student’s only way to access the resources they need.
Though emotional health care for teenagers is an ever-evolving field, especially throughout the pandemic, there are steps that schools across the nation can take to ensure that each individual has access to a safe and secure mental health outlet.
