Surgeon general warns of youth mental health crisis amid COVID-19

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy on Tuesday issued a new Surgeon General’s Advisory, warning of a growing youth mental health crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic.

While the crisis began escalating in the decade leading up to the pandemic, COVID-19 worsened conditions as it limited social interactions and access to necessary health and social services among young people, according to the surgeon general’s office.

"Mental health challenges in children, adolescents and young adults are real and widespread. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression and thoughts of suicide – and rates have increased over the past decade," Murthy said in a Tuesday statement. "The COVID-19 pandemic further altered their experiences at home, school and in the community, and the effect on their mental health has been devastating."

Early data show emergency room visits for suicide attempts among adolescent girls, in particular, rose by 51% during COVID-19 and emergency room (ER) visits among adolescent boys increased by 4% during the same time period.