Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Different Takes: Americans, Especially Teenagers, Are Struggling With Mental Health
Last year, a study came out showing that left-leaning adolescents were experiencing a greater increase in depression than their more conservative peers. Indeed, while girls are more likely to be depressed than boys, the study, by a group of epidemiologists at Columbia, showed that liberal boys had higher rates of depression than conservative girls. (Michelle Goldberg, 2/24)
In October 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association declared a national emergency in children’s mental health, citing the serious toll of the pandemic on top of other challenges. (Stephen J. Lyons, 2/24)
A study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention this month revealed some alarming statistics about the rapidly declining mental health of teenage girls, stating that nearly 3 in 5 U.S. teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021. (Doug Newton, 2/23)
Many Black Americans are at increased risk for depression, stress and anxiety. However, the idea of seeking behavioral health services like therapy and medication may not receive a warm reception in some African-American families. (Andrea Willis, 2/24)
