ETR ’s Post

Positive data alert! 🙌 All too often, we only see negative data related to youth mental health. It is important to note when we see something positive. The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data has been released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using data from 2021 to compare, they found decreases in the overall percentage of students who experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Black, Latinx, and female students also experienced a decrease. Check out the report to learn more: https://lnkd.in/e8ZCGtzP Thanks to ETR for sharing!

This is both groundbreaking and heartbreaking; but also shows the ways forward. Let’s put the number in perspective: 5% is 1/20; that’s more than 1 kid/teen per class. « About 3.3 percent of high school students identify as transgender and another 2.2 percent are questioning their gender identity, according to the first nationally representative survey on these groups, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday. Transgender and gender-questioning teenagers reported alarmingly higher rates of bullying at school, persistent sadness and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, according to the survey, which was carried out in 2023. About one in four transgender students said they had attempted suicide in the past year, compared with 11 percent of cisgender girls and 5 percent of cisgender boys. “We have 5 percent of young people in the country who, because of the way they identify around their gender, are stigmatized, bullied, made to feel unsafe, feel disconnected at school and consequently have poorer mental health and higher risk for suicide than their cisgender peers,” said Kathleen Ethier, the director of C.D.C.’s adolescent and school health division. “That’s just heartbreaking.” The data come from the agency’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, a survey of more than 20,000 high school students conducted in public and private schools across the country every two years. The 2023 survey was the first to ask teenagers in all schools whether they identified as transgender. (…) Previous estimates of the number of transgender teenagers in the United States were considerably lower than 3.3 percent. It is unclear how much those differences are because of past gaps in data or because of continuing increases in the population of young people identifying as transgender. “Data like this is exceedingly rare,” said Jody Herman, senior scholar of public policy at the Williams Institute and an author of the 2022 report. “It certainly fills in significant gaps in our knowledge about trans youth.” A peer-reviewed study published in September by the Trevor Project, an L.G.B.T.Q. suicide-prevention nonprofit, found that transgender and nonbinary teenagers in states that passed such laws reported more suicide attempts than those in states that didn’t, according to online surveys by the group. “What we’re finding is that when you don’t create safe and supportive school environments for the most vulnerable youth,” Dr. Ethier of the C.D.C. said, “it has an impact on their mental health and their suicidal thoughts and behaviors.” https://lnkd.in/d_RPER6u

Trends in Adolescent Health Over the past decade, several concerning trends have emerged affecting adolescents (ages 10-19): ✓ 1 in 7 adolescents globally now suffer from a mental disorder. ✓Anaemia remains prevalent among adolescent girls. ✓ 1 in 10 adolescents are classified as obese. ✓ The rise in sexually transmitted infections among youth is alarming. ✓ Millions of young people are affected by violence, including bullying. ✓Drug and substance abuse continues to be a significant issue. ✓ The influence of social media is impacting mental health and self-esteem. ✓ Lack of job opportunities is contributing to youth despair. ✓ Access to quality education and healthcare remains limited for many. ✓LGBTQ+ inclusivity: LGBTQ+ adolescents face heightened risks due to stigma and discrimination. They are more likely to experience mental health struggles, such as depression and anxiety, often stemming from societal rejection, bullying, and violence. Adolescence is a unique and critical stage of human development, marked by significant physical, emotional, and social transitions. It's time to lay the foundation for long-term health and success. Let's unite to support and uplift our adolescents & youth! 💪🏽 Please follow us for more insights NASI EDUCATION SERVICES #AdolescentHealth #YouthWellbeing #MentalHealth #LGBTQSupport #SubstanceAbuse #SocialMediaImpact #YouthEmployment #EducationForAll #ClimateAction #PublicHealth #EmpowerYouth #HealthyFuture

A new CDC report reveals a stark reality: Over half of LGBQ+ students face poor #mentalhealth, and 22% have attempted suicide in the past year. It's a call to action for all of us to provide better support for LGBTQIA+ youth. Leo Preziosi, Jr., founder of Live Out Loud, shares crucial ways to support LGBTQIA+ youth: educating ourselves, finding community support, and providing role models. Each step we take can make a profound difference. Learn how you can be a part of positive change: https://bit.ly/3RBwVvy #SupportLGBTQYouth #MentalHealthMatters #BlackHealthMatters

https://lnkd.in/gkZbpmjA This Rainbow health Report sets out the Road Map in Ontario for Transgender Education in Schools. Please read. When parents are told it is not in schools. It is the only education your child needs to learn to not get expelled. If you are interested in knowing the ROAD MAP please look at the link and rainbowhealth more generally. Here is just two items. "Ensure non-gender-specific facilities are universally available in spaces that have historically been sex-segregated, including but not limited to: washrooms, change rooms, shelter spaces, summer camps, university dorms and other overnight accommodations." "Support research initiatives to address the knowledge gaps identified in this report— especially among underserved communities and for children ages zero to six." AGES ZERO TO SIX

📢#healthcare #healthsystems #healthcare4all This months featured best practice in the Inclusion Scorecard for #PopulationHealth is: 2.2.3 Target Health Education for Underserved Populations: Facility uses culturally specific outreach and education to address chronic disease that disproportionately impact Latino, Black, LGBTQ, and/or specific demographic groups. 💡 Here are some questions to ask to determine the extent to which your health system has adopted this best practice: 1. How does the site use patient experience data to support the development of educational outreach programs to improve health outcomes? 2. Based on your sites existing data on known inequities --how do patient education initiatives create new insights on patient care?  3. How does your patient education outreach take into account the cultural beliefs or traditions that shape health behaviors?  4. When patients reveal that they need more education on key conditions, are there effective ways for providers to refer them accordingly?  5. How does your site partner with nonprofits, faith based organizations or public health programs to coordinate health education programs tailored to key communities? Each of the the 85 best practices in the Scorecard are linked to an online resource data base which crosswalks the practice with new #healthequity standards required by the Joint Commission, CMS, and NCQA. Here's the link for this best practice: https://lnkd.in/gaBewEni

✨ REPONSIVE, COLLABORATIVE INCLUSION ✨ Are marginalised women, girls and gender-diverse communities fully addressed in the National Autism Strategy? The #WWDA’s position statement highlights delayed diagnosis, lack of support, and disproportionate rates of violence. Whilst my researcher’s lens flinches at some of these figures, I’m sure we agree on moral inclination to include lived-experience collaboration on designing executive strategies. By age 18, 80% of autistic women and girls remain undiagnosed, and thus would not have adequate support. What collaborating will enable us to see is what assumed support looks like to decision makers, may be steps beyond what’s needed. With hypothesis of clear diagnosis as the goal/learning objective and the main theme, it might turn out that emotional support, information & subject matter expertise (access), empowers dialogue for individual journeys. There is no singular use case for understanding #inclusivity but we can certainly ask questions a little better. No data deficiency there. Link to Women With Disabilities Australia’s response in the comments #inclusiveeconomy #disability #peopleandsystems #operationalefficiency #businessconsulting

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey reported in the The New York Times today reveals a reality that too often goes unseen: 3.3% of U.S. high school students identify as transgender, a percentage that amounts to over 511,000 kids - and a number that is likely underreported as well due to fear and/or ambivalence among students in embracing their true identity due to societal prejudice and straight up danger. For perspective, that’s a population larger than entire cities like Atlanta, Miami, and Minneapolis. These aren’t just numbers; they represent real teenagers, each with unique stories, challenges, and needs. The statistics are heartbreaking. 70% of transgender and questioning students report feeling persistent sadness or hopelessness for more than two weeks in the past year. Compare that to 50% of cisgender girls and 26% of cisgender boys. Even more alarming, 10% of trans students have sought medical treatment for a suicide attempt in the past year—compared to just 2.6% of cisgender girls and 1% of cisgender boys. These kids face bullying, discrimination, and immense mental health struggles. As leaders in media, marketing, and advertising, we have the power—and responsibility—to represent them with empathy and authenticity. Brands that understand this aren’t just checking a box; they’re showing these kids that they are seen, valued, and worthy of dignity. Representation isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a lifeline. Every campaign, every message, can either uplift or alienate. Let’s choose to create stories that offer hope and affirm the identities of those who need it most. Full article at https://lnkd.in/ehAy_vbi. #TransYouth #InclusionMatters #SeeAll ANA AIMM

Youth Services are essential fact and reality of a future worth saving and protecting 💯

Recent discussions around social media have focused on potential mental health risks for teens, leading to proposed age bans and warning labels by policymakers. While concerns about the harmful effects of social media are valid, experts caution that these proposed measures may overlook the crucial mental health benefits that platforms can provide, especially for marginalized groups like LGBTQ+ and youth of color. Research indicates that social media can offer a vital sense of community and identity affirmation, helping young people combat feelings of isolation. Moreover, a complex relationship exists between social media use and youth mental health, necessitating more nuanced approaches to regulation rather than outright bans. Legislation currently in discussion, such as the Kids Online Safety Act, aims to protect minors but could inadvertently isolate them from valuable support networks. Experts emphasize the need for continued research on this topic to effectively balance safety and mental health needs. As we navigate the challenges of social media's impact on youth, it's essential to consider both the potential harms and the support it can provide to vulnerable populations. We must find balance! Learn more, https://ow.ly/TpTX50SVryu