/Kids’ mental health services needed more in pandemic

Kids’ mental health services needed more in pandemic

May, her youngest child was in second grade when the school switched to virtual learning in 2020. She was very sad to have lost her librarian, teachers, and school friends. She felt isolated because she didn’t have social media or a cell phone. These tools were vital for maintaining relationships during the pandemic. Ann explained that Ann experienced an anxiety disorder years earlier than she would have expected. Ann created a surprise for May a few months later, and that was the breaking point. Ann hired someone to redecorate May’s room. “It was supposed be a happy surprise and to have a freshen up.” May went into complete meltdown. After a while, she was able to communicate that she wanted to control the changes. Her bedroom was her sanctuary. It was the only thing that remained constant in a life that had been so drastically changed by circumstances beyond her control. Ann stated, “I was on the ground with her and she was like ‘I don’t know what I should do’ and that was when I realized how to help her.” “That was when my husband said, ‘okay we get help.'” Ann explained that the signs of Obsessive Compulsive disorder May which she had displayed before the bedroom incident were magnified afterward. She needed to feel in control of her life. It was important to her how her clothes were folded and in which drawers. Ann stated that it was different from when May was four years old and she wanted to choose the cup she would drink out of. “We could see this was very different,” Ann said. May was brought by her husband to a child psychiatrist. He diagnosed May with OCD and anxiety disorder and prescribed medication. She began seeing a therapist. Ann stated, “Thank God we have the ability to afford a child psychiatrist who specializes in anxiety.” May, now 10, is faring much better than she was in 2020. Although her parents are aware that May will struggle with mental health issues throughout her lifetime, they are committed to helping her manage them whenever they occur. Ann stated that although there is still stigma around mental health issues, at least in her household we can talk openly about it. It’s okay to not feel okay, to not have a reason or to feel scared. But you know that it’s safe. It’s our brain chemicals being a bit wonky.” Ann, who lives in Madison County is thankful that her children have a safe environment in which to seek help and ask for it. However, she worries about the children in her community who don’t have this opportunity. Ann had a conversation recently with one of her children’s teachers. She shared how her students responded to the return to in-person learning and how many have mental health needs that aren’t being met. Ann stated that many children don’t have the means to get help and it’s devastating for parents. Ann is correct. One in five American children has mental health problems. According to Dr. John Damon (CEO of Canopy Children’s Solutions), a major provider for mental and behavioral health care for Mississippi children, the majority of Mississippi’s children with these problems don’t receive the help they need. The United States surgeon general issued a warning in December that young people face “devastating” mental effects. He stated that the COVID-19 epidemic has made mental health problems worse than they were before 2020. Dr. Vivek H. Murphy released a 53-page report citing significant national increases in self reports of anxiety and depression, as well as emergency room visits for mental disorders. This report was released just two months after the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry declared a “national emergency” in youth mental healthcare. Even before the pandemic, Mississippi’s teen suicide rate was on the rise. The rate of teen suicide increased by 96% between 2012 and 2019. Damon estimates that the number of minors visiting emergency rooms for mental health emergencies has increased by almost 40% since 2019. Damon stated that “the number of children actually accessing care has not increased… which shows that there is a lot happening underneath the surface that often gets ignored until it’s in a very serious crisis point.” Damon believes that addressing these disparities will require collaboration between schools, health care providers, and the business community. Damon believes that more mental health services could be provided directly to schools in order to reach children who are not covered by the existing system. “You and me get up every morning, and then we head to work. The kids get up and go to school. Damon stated that we have to meet them where and when they are. The Mississippi Department of Education has issued a request for proposals to establish a state agency or hospital that will provide telehealth equipment to schools and access to medical care. According to MDE, the grant will be paid for by federal COVID-19 relief funds. The Department has also partnered with The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Center for the Advancement of Youth in order to support teachers in diagnosing and treating students with mental and behavioral health problems. They will also provide counseling services to those students who have been referred. This project was initiated in Jefferson County School district and Achievement School district, which covers Yazoo County and Humphreys County. The two districts’ teachers have informed the CAY team that their students are suffering from community violence, disruptive behavior in the classroom, grief related to COVID-19 and anxiety and depression, as well as cyberbullying. Dr. Susan Buttross is a professor of child development at University of Mississippi Medical Center. She oversees the Teaching Educators about Child Behavioral Health Program (TEACH). Buttross is a pediatrician and Buttross is a child clinical psychologist, licensed professional counselors, and a family nurse specialist. Both superintendents stated that they have noticed an increase in mental health problems among their students. More resources are required. Jermall Wright is the superintendent of Achievement School District. He stated that it was impossible to just accelerate learning without addressing the problems these students face.