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#JamesDonaldson On #MentalHealth – One In 12 Pa. #HighSchoolers Attempted #Suicide Last Year; Advocates Want More #Counselors, #SocialWorkers
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Across the country, #children are in the midst of what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a #youth “#mentalhealth #pandemic,” with an unprecedented number of #children struggling with #anxiety and #depression.
Sarah Schneider/WESABio
A young #girl walks with her mother inside the pediatric unit of the Robert Debre hospital, in Paris, France, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. #Doctors say the impact of the #coronavirus #pandemic on the #mentalhealth of #children is alarming and plain to see. France’s busiest pediatric hospital has seen a doubling in the number of #children and young #teenagers requiring treatment after attempted #suicides.
While slightly fewer Pennsylvania #children are in poverty or have a #parent without secure employment compared to last year, #mentalhealth needs continue to increase across the state.
That’s according to new data from the Annie E Casey Foundation’s annual report on #child wellbeing. Across the country, #children are in the midst of what the U.S. Surgeon General has called a #youth “#mentalhealth #pandemic,” with an unprecedented number of #children struggling with #anxiety and #depression.
In Pennsylvania, a quarter more #kids are dealing with #anxiety and #depression than the year before. This year’s report shows 282,000 #children ages 3-17 were reported with those conditions, compared to 226,000 in the previous year. Across the commonwealth 1 in every 12 #highschoolers attempted #suicide last year, according to the report.
#Black and #brown #children are disproportionately represented in those increases. Nationally 9% of #highschoolers attempted #suicide last year while 12% of #Black #students, 13% of #students of two or more races and 26% of #AmericanIndian or Native Alaskan #highschoolstudents attempted #suicide, according to a federal survey.
Educators and advocates attribute the increased #mentalhealth needs to the #pandemic. They say the #isolation and economic burdens on families exacerbated existing issues.
#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
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
Jamie Baxter with Pittsburgh-based Allies for Children says the data echoes what they’ve heard in western Pennsylvania.
“We know that #schools have been just overwhelmed with the #mentalhealthconcerns,” she said.
The organization partnered with 1Hood Media in a project that asked #students what their biggest challenge has been during the #COVID-19 #pandemic. The most common concern was #students’ #mentalhealth.
Both Baxter and the Annie E. Casey Foundation recommend policymakers provide enough funding to #schools so that they can hire more #counselors and #socialworkers.
Baxter said officials also need “to engage partners in the communities and recognize that [#schools] can’t solve it themselves. They need to rely on expertise within the community to really help leverage support and to meet the #students where they are.”
The report ranked Pennsylvania 24th for the number of uninsured #children. During the #pandemic #children have had uninterrupted access through #Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program or CHIP. The coverage includes #mentalhealth and social-emotional development screenings during regular checkups.
But nearly 350,000 #children are at risk of losing their health care coverage whenever a #COVID-driven freeze on disenrollments is lifted.
“During the #pandemic, we’ve seen a record number of #children enrolled in Medicaid, and one of our goals is to ensure they stay covered when the federal public health emergency ends,” said Kari King, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for #Children. “The state can support #child #mentalhealth by ensuring it is thoughtful and proactive in its approach when it begins to redetermine eligibility for all #children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.”
The organization recommends that families make sure their contact information is up to date through the Department of Human Services, so that they complete their renewals without a lapse in coverage.
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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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