A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that emergency department visits for mental health issues among children and teenagers rose significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic. While there has been some improvement, mental health problems remain a major concern, particularly among teenage girls.
CDC researchers monitored weekly emergency department visits for nine specific mental health conditions, suicide attempts, suicide-related behaviors, and drug overdoses among adolescents aged 12 to 17. By the fall of 2022, these visits for mental health conditions, suicide-related behaviors, and drug overdoses had decreased by at least 10% compared to the fall of 2021.
Despite the overall decline, emergency department visits for mental and behavioral health among teenage girls remained at or above the levels before the pandemic. The rates were significantly higher for adolescent girls compared to adolescent boys. In the fall of 2022, there were over 4,000 visits for mental health conditions among teen girls, while there were about 2,400 visits among teen boys. Suspected suicide attempts were nearly four times higher among teen girls than teen boys.
The report also highlighted that emergency department visits for drug overdoses were higher than the levels seen in 2019. Overdoses involving opioids specifically increased by 27% between the fall of 2021 and the fall of 2022, with greater increases among teenage boys.
Health experts have been expressing concern about youth mental health for years. In February, the CDC released a survey showing record high levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk among teen girls in recent years. Dr. Debra Houry, CDC’s chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science, emphasized that many mental health challenges can be prevented.
The new report suggests that a return to school and community settings similar to pre-pandemic conditions may have helped adolescents feel less isolated and more engaged. However, ongoing efforts are needed to support the mental health of teenagers. These efforts should include evidence-based prevention strategies, such as the 988 suicide crisis line and access to telehealth options, as well as early identification of conditions and trauma-informed interventions
