Mental health is a critical part of one’s overall health and well-being. For kids, it is becoming more of a struggle to think positively and manage their emotions. For decades, the rates of childhood depression have been on the rise, and it has prompted concern from parents and educators alike: Why? Why are young kids falling into pits of depression and wells of anxiety? Many parents claim social media as the guilty party, and while that might be so, is that the only cause? Some argue there is more to it, such as a lack of education and resources for children or the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the decline in children’s mental health, it has become more vital than ever for people to emotionally educate themselves and understand preventative measures for depression.

          Depression is the most prevalent form of mental illness in both kids and adults. Mental Health America detailed in their 2023 State of Mental Health in America Report that more than 2.7 million American children live with severe depression, but 60% of them receive no mental health treatment. On top of that, they claim that about 13% of youth (12-17) reported they experience serious thoughts of suicide. The CDC reported that from 2008 to 2020, the suicide rates of people aged 12 and older increased by 16% overall. In a similar study, reported in the 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report, they concluded that suicidal tendencies in high school students increased by more than 40% from 2009 to 2019. With these alarming numbers, it is clear that something has changed in the quality of children’s mental health.

          The reasons behind this spike in depression vary from child to child. Genetics and family environment play a significant role in the development of children. Some children grow up more susceptible to melancholy depending on which side of their brain is more active, and the issue of family relationships and trauma is one of the most influential things that shape a person’s life. However, as mentioned above, the growing reliability of technology is also harming children. They have everything they could possibly want and everything that they don’t need to see equally at their fingertips. Ever since Adobe Flash Player shut down, kids have lost many spaces and games dedicated to them. They have been forced onto sites such as Instagram and X (Twitter), where they are exposed to content that is not necessarily age appropriate–not to mention how the isolation and forced internet connection during the COVID-19 pandemic affected their minds. Kids should not be forced to grow up through screens, but with the way technology is moving, it seems like that will continue to be the case.

          Another considerable issue facing depressed children is the lack of resources and education on their emotional welfare and coping skills. If kids are more knowledgeable of what they’re feeling and why they’re feeling it, they can better regulate themselves. Daniel Goleman first introduced the idea of emotional intelligence in the 1990s as a way for people to understand and have the ability to manage their emotions and see their influence on the feelings of others. If more children had access to therapy and effective couches, there might be a cap to these startling statistics. MHA’s youth data in 2024 cited Connecticut and the District of Columbia as the states with the lowest rates of mental illness and the highest rates of care access for youths. At the other end of the spectrum, Nevada is in 51^st place. In the Midwest, Illinois came in at number 4, Indiana at 27, and Kentucky at 36. Mental health education and care should be an accessible part of healthcare. There is no reason for children to continue suffering because they can’t afford to seek proper help. Goleman encourages schools to create programs revolving around learning emotional intelligence and caring for each other in close communities.

          Sensitive topics like this are challenging to discuss around children, because who wants to talk about such distressing stuff in front of a child? With these staggering numbers, though, it would be irresponsible not to have these conversations and risk waiting until it is too late. As the next generation of parents, educators, therapists, policymakers, and the like, it is essential to be educated and establish preventative measures for future children. It would be a disservice to future generations to let these confounding statistics continue to escalate.

Call 988 to access the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or visit https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/depression/resources.html for more resources.