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According to the CDC, approximately 4.4 million (7.1%) children aged 3-17 have diagnosed anxiety in the US and 1.9 million (3.2%) children of the same age group have diagnosed depression in the US (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). These are only the kids who have gotten diagnosed, which shows how prevalent mental health issues are in this country. Being a student, we can see the impact mental health issues are having on our peers and ourselves. There have been cases of people committing suicide in this county and that might have been prevented if there were the right resources. Over 60% of the youth with anxiety and depression don’t seek treatment (Mental Health America, 2022). This is definitely a factor as to why suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in young adults. Many students cannot get mental health resources due to their high costs and low accessibility. An hour-long therapy session can cost anywhere from $65 to $250 depending on the therapist and whether they take insurance (Leonhardt, 2021). This can add up to thousands and thousands of dollars that many people do not have out of pocket to pay for these services. These past 2 years have definitely increased the need for proper mental health resources. With COVID-19, many people have lost loved ones, felt isolated/alone, and had to deal with a variety of issues.

Depression is a mood disorder that results in long-term, persistent feelings of sadness. This can lead to a loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep, loss of appetite, very low energy levels, trouble concentrating, and low self-esteem (Mayo Clinic, 2018). An anxiety disorder is where occasional feelings of being anxious never go away and tends to get worse. This results in feeling restless or on edge, getting tired very easily, having trouble concentrating, becoming irritable, and having difficulty controlling feelings of anxiousness or worry (National Institute of Mental Health, 2018).

The best thing to do to get help is to talk to a trusted adult. Whether that is a teacher, school counselor, aunt, uncle, parent, grandparent, coach, or doctor it doesn't matter. Speak to someone who can help you make sense of what you are going through. A lot of times, opening up to another person can be the hardest step, but it is a step in the right direction. They can help you access the resources you need such as therapy, counseling, and more. For immediate and/or life-threatening situations, please dial 9-1-1 or visit the Resources page of this website.