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#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – The #Youth #MentalHealthCrisis, In 4 Charts
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The #pandemic has severely impacted the #mentalhealth of #children and #adolescents in the #UnitedStates, with recent research showing high rates of poor #mentalhealth and increases in suspected #suicideattempts among younger people
#American #youth are struggling with their #mentalhealth
Compared to before the #pandemic, #mentalhealth and #suicidalideation among #American #youth has worsened significantly. In #CDC‘s latest #Youth Risk #Behavior Survey, which was conducted in fall 2021 and the first iteration to take the #pandemic into account, 42% of #teenagers reported experiencing “persistent feelings of sadness or #hopelessness” in the last year and 29% said they had poor #mentalhealth in the past month.
Compared to #teenage #boys, #teenage #girls were significantly more likely to report feelings of sadness or #hopelessness and poor #mentalhealth. Overall, 57% of #teenage #girls said they felt sad or hopeless in 2021 — almost double the rate among boys (29%). Young people who identified as #LGBQ+ were also more likely to report feelings of sadness and #hopelessness or poor #mentalhealth compared to those who identified as #heterosexual.
In 2021, 22% of #highschoolstudents reported seriously considering #suicide, 18% made a plan to commit #suicide, and 10% attempted #suicide one or more times during the past year. #Female #students were roughly twice as likely to consider, plan, or attempt #suicide than #male #students. Similarly, #LGBQ+ #students were significantly more likely to consider, plan, or attempt #suicide than #heterosexual #students.
“I think there’s really no question what this data is telling us,” said Kathleen Ethier, head of #CDC’s #adolescent and #school health program. “Young people are telling us that they are in crisis.”
Separately, a study recently published in #CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that the rate of suspected #suicideattempts by self-poisoning among #children ages 10-19 increased by 30% between 2019 and 2021.
This rise was particularly prominent among younger #children, with those ages 10 to 12 seeing a 73% increase. #Adolescents ages 13 to 15 also saw a 48.8% increase. Compared to young #boys, who saw a 5.6% increase, young #girls had a 36.8% increase in suspected #suicides by self-poisoning.
The substances most often involved in these suspected #suicideattempts include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, sertraline, fluoxetine, and diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Compared to 2019, overdoses involving acetaminophen increased by 71% in 2021 and 58% in 2022 while diphenhydramine overdoses increased by 24.2% in 2021 and 35.8% in 2022.
“As someone who takes care of these #children, it’s concerning to see some of the over-the-counter products that are utilized,” said Christopher Holstege, one of the study’s authors and a professor of emergency medicine and #pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He also noted that it is challenging to control access to products that “have some pretty significant toxicity” that #youth can easily purchase at drug stores.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
In its 2021 #Youth Risk #Behavior Survey, #CDC outlined several steps for #schools and #partners to take to help address #mentalhealthissues among #American #youth, including:
Ensuring #students feel connected to others through #youth development programs or inclusivity efforts
Connecting families and #students with community resources
Providing more #education on #mental, physical and sexual health
“#Highschool should be a time for trailblazing, not #trauma. These data show our #kids need far more support to cope, hope, and thrive,” said Debra Houry, CDC’s CMO. “Proven #school prevention programs can offer #teens a vital lifeline in these growing waves of #trauma.”
Holstege and his co-authors also made similar recommendations in their own study, emphasizing a need for effective partnerships with families, #teachers, #mentalhealthprofessionals, and more.
“It is imperative to mitigate this increase with #suicideprevention measures that focus on #children and #adolescents and involve partnerships between key partners in the communities, such as families, #school #teachers, #mentalhealthprofessionals, and public health leadership,” the authors wrote.
“#Suicideprevention resources and tools are available to help communities prevent #suicide,” they added. “These strategies include identifying and supporting #youth at risk for #suicide, creating protective environments through reduction of access to lethal means, improving access to #mentalhealthcare, and teaching coping and problem-solving skills.” (Henderson, MedPage Today, 4/20; Castillo, STAT, 4/20; Payne/Mahr, Politico Pro [subscription required], 4/28; Farah et al., Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 4/21; CDC 2021 #Youth Risk #Behavior Survey, accessed 4/28)
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James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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