CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Happiness in young people in the United States is falling, according to the 2024 World Happiness Report.
What You Need To Know
Youth mental health in the U.S. fell by twice as much as older adults over about a 12-year period. Mental health professionals say parents should check in with their children daily and be the experts on their child’s behavior and health The Alexander Youth Network says it sees the impacts of worsening mental health on young people in North Carolina and across the country
The United States ranks 10th in happiness out of 143 countries for people 60 and older. It ranks 62nd in happiness out of 143 countries for people 30 and younger. When comparing the numbers taken from 2006-10 to those taken in 2021-23, happiness fell by twice as much in young people as it did in older people in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Mental health professionals in North Carolina say they are seeing the impacts of increasing mental health issues in youth.
The Alexander Youth Network has campuses in Greensboro and Charlotte, serving children 5 to 17 years old. The nonprofit offers facility-based crisis care, residential treatment and day treatment.
Ashley Sparks is the executive director of the Child and Adolescent Facility-Based Crisis Center in Greensboro. She says she is seeing more 7- to 10-year-olds who are having suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
“We talk a lot about social media and that instant access. We weren’t really designed to carry the weight of the judgments and opinions of everyone around us,” Sparks said. “It used to just be your family and a handful of friends, but I think now with social media that’s at your fingertips.”
Sparks says parents should monitor their children’s interactions on social media and check in with them daily. She says consistently sharing good and bad news with each other will make children more likely to speak up when something is bothering them.
#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
Alexander Youth Network’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility in Charlotte houses 41 students for about four months at a time. Executive Director Xavier Dunbar says while their beds consistently stay full, they are seeing an increase in the levels of anxiety and depression their patients are experiencing.
“The behaviors we are going to see are going to be verbal aggression, physical aggression, property destruction, suicide ideation,” Dunbar said. “Our job is to get those children stabilized and develop coping skills to be able to transition back down to a lower level of care.”
Dunbar says he has done mental health work for 20 years.
“It’s important for them to understand that while they may have experienced some adverse childhood experiences, there are adults and other individuals around that care, that want to help,” Dunbar said.
Dunbar says they are there to provide support, and they rely on parents to be the expert on their children.
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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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