In The Pandemic, Children Face A Mental Health Crisis

Short Wave

NPR

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4.7 • 6K Ratings

🗓️ 13 May 2021

⏱️ 14 minutes

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Summary

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the proportion of emergency department visits by children in mental health crises went up significantly during the pandemic — about 30% for kids ages 12-17 and 24% for children ages 5-11 between March and October of last year, compared to 2019. For psychiatrists like Dr. Nicole Christian-Brathwaite, this is evident in her practice and personal life. We talk to her about how this past year has taken a toll on children and their mental health, as well as her advice for helping the kids in your life cope better.

Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to shortwave from NPR.
0:06.2	Hey everybody, Ritu Chateji here,
0:08.3	I cover mental health for NPR.
0:10.2	And today I want to introduce you to someone with insight into what this past year or so
0:15.3	has been like for many kids.
0:18.0	Shortly after school's closed in the last spring,
0:22.1	I started to have an increase in the number of calls and requests for psychiatric evaluations
0:28.6	and psychiatric support.
0:30.0	Dr. Nicole Christian-Brathwaite is a child and adolescent psychiatrist based in Boston.
0:35.4	The number of calls that I've received have only increased exponentially.
0:39.8	Well, and so were these calls from parents, were they from school teachers or counselors?
0:45.0	Who were reaching out to you?
0:46.9	All of the above, honestly.
0:49.2	So certainly parents are in crisis.
0:51.8	They're feeling overwhelmed, having children home.
0:55.2	Obviously it's difficult, particularly for parents that have to go to work for parents that are
1:00.4	essential employees.
1:01.7	I have also received calls from schools, schools even now, both schools, school systems,
1:08.0	requesting consultation for students in crisis.
1:13.3	Another data point.
1:14.8	Last fall, the CDC reported that the proportion of emergency department visits by children
1:20.3	in mental health crises went up significantly during the pandemic.
	...

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