Data shows that a growing number of children and teens are experiencing certain mental health conditions, both across the nation and in the Commonwealth.
Nationally, one in four teens aged 12-17 report having been diagnosed with a mental illness according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and a recent study from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that in 2020, 15.9% of Kentucky’s children and teens suffer with either anxiety or depression.
To help combat this rise, the mental health nonprofit Mental Health America has released an online toolkit that leaders said aims to provide information and resources to youth and their caregivers on how to protect their mental health in a digital world.
Marcie Timmerman, Executive Director for Mental Health America of Kentucky, said the toolkit is a series of worksheets that fall under this year’s theme of “Selfies, Social, & Screens: Navigating Virtual Spaces for Youth.”
“Really, it is about helping people navigate as parents and as youth these new tools that we have, right, the social media tools and the online spaces that we all inhabit,” she said.
Timmerman said the toolkit includes social media dos and don’ts to serve as a general guide for youth to stay safe while using social media.
“It starts with making sure you know how to block people, you know how to add people that are good for you. Recognizing when you have that fear of missing out, recognizing when a space is not serving you well,” she said. “Checking in, making sure you’re in reality, that you’re not comparing yourself with somebody else’s best day.”
Caregivers and school personnel should always be on the lookout, Timmerman said, and there are certain warning signs to watch out for.
“If they’re unable to get off of their phone or get out of the video game, that’s a real concern. If they’re fighting you and arguing with you with that, then that starts to show some addictive behavior and that’s a time to definitely make sure you’re intervening,” she said. “If students are isolating themselves considerably, changing their personality drastically in a short amount of time.”
If a mental health issue is suspected, Timmerman said the toolkit contains some next steps, but there are other options if those aren’t enough.
“Our screenings are online at mhascreening.org, and there’s a parent screening in there for parents to take to see if it’s time to maybe get into a professional,” she said. “If it is time to get into a professional, then they can contact anybody on our resource page. So, community mental health centers or go to their insurance and check for employee assistance programs at work.”
More information on the toolkit and other resources can be found online.