The Missouri Board of Education has scheduled a presentation for Tuesday to discuss the current state of mental health among children. Valerie Huhn, Director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health, and State Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven will give the presentation.
According to the Missouri Department of Mental Health, nearly one-third of teenagers report using social media almost constantly, which is double the amount reported in 2015. Children and adolescents who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media are at double the risk of mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Additionally, young adults have the highest rates of social isolation, with almost twice as likely to report feeling lonely as those over 65.
The Missouri Department of Mental Health plans to present recommendations for steps that the government can take to address the mental health needs of children. Some of these recommendations include creating tech-free zones, encouraging children to form in-person friendships, modeling responsible social media behavior, strengthening school-based mental health programs, and investing in hiring more school counselors and social workers.
For more information about the presentation and additional resources, click here.
