May 9 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in the USA
by Yiyan Zhang and Selena Hoy
In Japan, the US, and beyond, we face a growing youth mental health crisis. This crisis came into sharp relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the well-being of children came under scrutiny amid questions about remote schooling, curtailed access to extracurricular activities, and a loss of milestone events.
- In the UK in 2023, about 1 in 5 children and young people aged 8 to 25 had a probable mental disorder.
- In the US, nearly 20% of children and young people ages 3-17 in the United States have a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder, and suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24; over 1 in 10 youth are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function.
- In Europe and Central Asia, girls are lonelier and have worse well-being on average than boys, according to a new WHO report.
- In Japan, youth suicides reached an alarming new high in 2022.
These sobering statistics illustrate that it’s more important than ever to pay attention to children’s mental health. Most mental health disorders are highly treatable, especially if caught early. May 9 is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in the USA, a day that was first marked on May 7, 2005. Created by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the US, the day is meant to raise awareness of mental health issues or illnesses in youth, and provide education, resources, and hope. Mental health is everyone’s business, and we know that taking care of the mental health of the youngest members of our society can only contribute to a brighter future for us all.