Concerns about youth struggling with depression and anxiety became more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic. While greater awareness of mental health emerged during the pandemic, the fact remains that the rate of mental health needs for children and teens has been steadily rising since the early 21st century.
Between 2012 and 2018, there was a 34.6% increase in the occurrence of mental health diagnoses among children ages 4 to 17, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that between 13% and 29% of American children ages 3 to 17 currently have a diagnosable mental health condition. Emergency room visits for pediatric mental health increased 55% between 2012 and 2016, while hospitalizations for mood disorders among juveniles increased 80% between 1997 and 2010.
