First Focus submitted this statement for the record regarding the February 15, 2022 hearing on “Protecting Youth Mental Health” held by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.
Excerpt from the letter:
Our country is facing a youth mental health crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only sharpened the lens on an existing issue. Even before the pandemic, 13-20% of children under the age of 18 experienced a mental disorder, and the suicide rate among youth aged 10 to 24 has increased nearly 60% since 2007. The issue has only worsened due to the pandemic. In the first 6 months of 2021, children’s hospitals reported a 45% increase in the number of cases of self-injury and suicide in children ages 5 to 17 compared to the first 6 months of 2019. While children from all backgrounds have been impacted by mental health challenges during the pandemic, children of racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately impacted.