Skip to main content

Alarming US data on child mental health: Wake-up call to end social malaise

By Bharat Dogra 

If 1 out of 2 high school girls feel persistently sad or hopeless and one out of six students plan suicide in a year, isn’t it time for a society so affected to look inwards at what has gone wrong, so that at least, and as a first step, the causes of such a dismal state of affairs can be identified correctly? After all, effective remedial action depends first and foremost on a proper identification of causes.
This is all the more necessary in a situation when, as this alarming official data for year 2019 for USA tells us, in addition there is an incredibly high rate of increase of these problems.
According to the data of the  (the latest such data available at present and also quoted by the USA Surgeon General in the advisory issued by him in 2021), in 2019 37% of all high school students and half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. What is more, within a decade (2009-2019), this had recorded a 40% increasing, rising from 26% to 37%, a very fast rate of increase. Why is sadness and hopelessness so widely pervasive in one of the richest countries with relatively very high educational and health spending?
At the same time, this data base has revealed that one out of six students reported making a suicide plan in 2019. Again, there was a terribly high increase in this tendency in the previous decade 2009-2019, an increase of 44%. A question that needs to be faced is—in such a rich country with such high material comforts and such a high exposure to diversity of entertainment and sports, why is one out of six children preparing a suicide plan?
According to the Advisory on Mental Health issued by the USA Surgeon General in 2021, there was an even higher rise in the suicide rate in the age-group 10-24 in the USA from 2007 to 2018—57%. In 2018, suicide became the second leading cause of death in this age-group.
According to the Surgeon General Advisory as well as several other reports, on top of the very serious situation existing already by 2019, as indicated in the data presented above, there was a further very rapid deterioration during the COVID period. To give an indication, according to the USA Surgeon General advisory, in early 2021 there was a further 51% rise in emergency department visits by adolescent girls in the USA relating to suicide attempts, compared to the similar period in 2019.
In the fall of the same year 2021, a coalition of the USA’s leading experts in pediatric health, declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health.
All these are alarming figures. The surgeon general has also used the word ‘alarming’ for this. He has stated, “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.”
However while the data is there, no comprehensive, credible explanation appears to have emerged yet at a wide level of why, in one of the richest countries enjoying very special privileges, children and adolescents are in such an extreme stage of sadness, hopelessness and desperation, and why is there such rapid recent increase in this. Of course in a country with so many capable, resourceful researchers and research institutions, several explanations have been offered. Several of these draw attention to important aspects and offer helpful insights (the Surgeon General’s Advisory has also contributed much to this), but not an understanding that is comprehensive and deep enough to provide a very effective, hope-giving base for remedial action.
One explanation that has emerged is that the social media and accompanying gadgets have contributed much of this increase in the decade preceding the pandemic, but this is more of a manifestation of the basic problems rather than being the root cause itself. The wider reality of course is that while many explanations concentrate on what wrongs children may be doing, in fact children and adolescents live for the most part in a world that others, the adult members of society have built for them. They are much more the victims and less the perpetrators of the serious distortions and ills of the world created by the adults for which they, the adults must bear responsibility. The fact that the adults also suffer from high rates of mental health problems complicates the situation further.
To give just an example of the world given to (or inflicted on ) children and adolescents, the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse, USA, has collected the following USA-level data from various official sources:
  • About one half of the USA children under the age of 18 are reported to be victims of various forms of abuse and nearly half of these victims of abuse are more specifically victims of child sexual abuse, even though most cases of child abuse and child sexual abuse go unreported. 
  • Every hour 58 girls and 40 boys become victims of child sexual abuse. A child abuse case is reported every 10 seconds (even though most cases go unreported). 
  • 90% victims of abuse know, trust and love the perpetrators of abuse (as they are family members, relatives or care-givers), which makes the abuse all the more traumatic and shattering for them, destroying trust.
  • 20% of child victims of abuse are under age 8 years of age. One in 3 children get exposed to unwanted sexual material, one in seven internet users are solicited sexually.
  • 60% of pregnant teens are victims of sexual abuse. 100,000 children and adolescents enter prostitution annually. The average age of girls entering prostitution is 12 to 14.
  • Nearly 800,000 children go missing every year, or 2000 every day.
  • 3.3 million children see violence in their home every year.
  • 5 children are reported to die every day due to child abuse, although such fatalities are under-reported to a significant data.
Child abuse exists across all socio-economic groups.
As for the impact of all this on mental health, this data based on official sources says that about 80% of 21-year olds who suffered from child abuse report at least one psychological disorder while 60% of those in drug rehabilitation centers say they suffered abuse as children.
According to another report of American Counseling Association, among child and adolescent victims of child abuse, there is 42% increase of possibility of suicidal thoughts during adolescence.
The data base of the National Alliance for Children mentions the additional highly distressing fact that 15% of child abuse victims are in the first year of their life; 1 out of 40 infants under 1 year are victims of abuse in a typical year.
In the world created by the adults for children, there is a lot of racial discrimination and abuse. There are many additional problems for special groups identified on basis of disabilities or late development or sexual orientation. Students who care to explore more find their idealism crushed by what they learn about the atrocities of their country’s leadership and armies that have claimed millions of lives and led to the overthrow of dozens of democratic governments worldwide. They also learn that their country and leaders are in the forefront of aggravating the arms race, accumulation of weapons of mass destruction, that they responsible for the worst pollution and GHG emissions. Climate change, other serious environmental problems and weapons of mass destruction have made their own future extremely risky and uncertain, and if students study this seriously they realize that their own leaders have contributed the most to this. Inequality levels are peaking in their country, to an extent contributing to their own worries, uncertainties and debts, or that of their parents and families.
This then is the world inflicted on the tender, impressionable minds of children and adolescents, and the statistics summarized here very briefly can only tell a part of the distressing story. This is why there is a clear need to look inwardly and more deeply where the entire society has gone wrong , why a leadership seeking to create the most billionaires and world level hegemony has ended up creating a society in which the ( supposed to be ) most loved ones—children-- are the most distressed. Real reform and remedial action is possible only on the basis of such honest introspection.
---
The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include ‘Protecting Earth for Children', ‘Planet in Peril’ and ‘A Day in 2071’

Comments

TRENDING

Cave of Spleen - a feminist perspective: Status of women in early 18th century England

The Cave of Spleen: Aubrey Beardsley's illustration for Pope's “The Rape of the Lock” By Pragya Ranjan  "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope published in 1712 is a mock-heroic narrative which satirically glorifies trivial incident of cutting of locks of protagonist Belinda. This poem was written in the Augustan Era (1660-1784) which is marked by the period of scientific reason and rationality, whose effect can be seen on the writers of those times. This timeline is particularly important to analyse the episode of the Cave of Spleen.

Sengol imbroglio suggests reason why Modi, BJP don't respect modern Indian history

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  The new parliament building opened on February 28. It looks it is not the Parliament but part of #Pratinidhisabhas ' started by earstwhile #princelystates in India. The #BJP for long has been acting as if India is a #Kingdom and Modi ji the new #King of India. Even at the coronations of Kings, you find a large number of people, and dignitaries but look at the opening ceremony we have only one face as if he build everything. Is it the dream of a republic.

Abrogation of Art 370: Increasing alienation, relentless repression, simmering conflict

One year after the abrogation by the Central Government of Art. 370 in Kashmir, what is the situation in the Valley. Have the promises of peace, normalcy and development been realised? What is the current status in the Valley? Here is a detailed note by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties , “Jammu & Kashmir: One Year after Abrogation of Art. 370: Increasing Alienation, Relentless Repression, Simmering Conflict”:

Release of dabang neta: Rule of law can't be allowed to be slave to political rhetoric

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  When we look to politicians for solutions and politics as the 'final solution' for every evil then we are disappointed most of the time. In politics, we knowingly or unknowingly become part of the propaganda tool of the ruling elite which exists everywhere across different castes. We often provide issues and talk about them in binaries which suit our elites. The minorities among the marginalised who have no political space and representation rarely get heard by these majoritarian parties whose agenda remain power communities. Every political party in today's time is following the 'successful' formula of 'democracy' which is keeping the 'powerful' 'jaatis' with them leaving aside the marginalised one. The BJP started this but yes they cobbled together all other communities too through a diverse narrative.

Discussion on making school education meaningful to vulnerable communities

ActionAid note on workshop to boost National Curriculum Framework operations: *** Leading educationists and activists striving to make education meaningful to vulnerable communities gathered in Delhi to discuss the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE). Acting in response to the call of the NCF Steering Committee appointed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, ActionAid Association had organised the meeting to gather feedback on the draft NCFSE. This is part of ActionAid Association’s commitment to promote inclusive and gender-responsive education. The two-day national workshop titled ‘NCF Perspectives: Seeking Feedback on National Curriculum Framework (NCF)’ on May 30 and 31, 2023, was held at India International Centre, New Delhi. The workshop aimed to ensure a structured approach to gathering feedback from key stakeholders and enhancing their active participation in shaping the response sought by the Government of India. Stakeholders representing e

Why are 17 Indian cos, including Sterlite, blacklisted by Norway bank

By Venkatesh Nayak* Readers may recall the gory incidents that took place at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) in Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India on 22 May, 2018. Thirteen protesters died on the spot when the police opened fire to disperse an assemblage of thousands of local residents and representatives of civil society groups. They were protesting against the adverse environmental impact of the industrial operations of Sterlite Copper which runs a copper smelter plant in the area. Accusations against the company have ranged from polluting local water resources to plans for expanding the installed capacity of the plant without the necessary environmental clearances. A ground report published in The Wire recently, mentions the decision taken by Norges Bank a few years ago to not invest funds from Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) in Sterlite “due to an unacceptable risk of complicity in current and future severe environmental damage and systematic human rights violations

J&K RTI activist denied opportunity to address audience, bring forward critical issues

Statement by Er. Irfan Banka, Founder of J&K RTI Foundation and convener of the Nalae Ferozpora Bachav Movement, regarding the incident of official misconduct during the My Town My Pride Jan Abhiyan Program and communication to Raj Bhavan: *** Er. Irfan Banka, a prominent RTI Activist and advocate, has come forward to address an incident of misconduct that occurred during the My Town My Pride Jan Abhiyan Program held at Mugam Town Hall in  Budgam. Additionally, Er. Irfan Banka has communicated the matter to Raj Bhavan, seeking appropriate action. During the event, Er. Irfan Banka was denied the opportunity to address the audience and bring forward critical issues concerning the people and services in the community, including waste management, traffic management, and the achievement of sustainable development goals. The incident involved the Additional Registrar Co-operative Kashmir, who not only prevented Er. Irfan Banka from speaking but also subjected him to public humiliation. E

Danger ahead: Smartphones making teens sexually smart, but mentally disturbed

By Harasankar Adhikari  We live in a digitally globalised society. Bombarded consumerism and imitation of foreign cultures and practises reshape our everyday lives. Life choices and lifestyles are the driving forces of modernity at present. People of almost all ages are within this realm and rhythm of consumerism for happiness.

Big challenge for environment movement: How to link with justice, peace movements?

By Bharat Dogra  The biggest hope for resolving life-threatening environmental problems of our planet increasingly rests now not with the world-level political leadership, which has failed miserably in many critical contexts, but instead with those highly committed environmental activists who have many significant achievements to their credit despite working in the middle of many difficulties. Alas, even they too are often grim today instead of being enthused because of the rather overwhelming conditions of world which force environment protection to go two steps backward even when the activists and movements achieve the difficult task of moving one step ahead.

Worship practice of Hindu religion in official functions should be considered appropriate

By NS Venkataraman* The new Indian parliament building was inaugurated with much fanfare, pomp and show by Prime Minister Modi befitting the occasion. While the magnificent building with several technological features was built in just over two years , the style and structure of the building has been acclaimed by millions of people who saw the inaugural programme. Those who saw this programme in person or in visual media could not miss the fact that the installation of Sengol ( Sceptre) was the hall mark of this elegant programme . In India, historically, Sengol is considered to be the symbol of justice and good governance.