Meagan Davies, MS, NCC, LPC’s Post

Great piece today in POLITICO on the mental health crisis among American children and adolescents. Really appreciate that they call out that the need is profound, but the cause is undetermined. Like so many things in mental health, it's likely multi-factorial. Grateful for all the attention to child mental health, but when I am teaching public mental health next week, most of the newest interventions are being scaled up before the evidence base is strong. Does feel like we are moving into a new era of mental health treatment, where we recognize that it will require culture change to make society better for the next generation. https://lnkd.in/gQeZrsji

We are honored to have our founder, Mary Alvord, Ph.D., featured in this NPR article discussing the latest CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Dive into the conversation about youth mental health and suicide prevention. #NPR #YouthWellness #MentalHealthMatters Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ecXkb7EM

Stepping back into working with children and the education system has really highlighted to me one thing.....how outdated our schooling system really is. 🧠 After doing a lot of research about mental health and schools I have been really disheartened by what I have found. Waiting lists are excessively high, and it seems mental health interventions are being cancelled due to staffing numbers and budgets. ✨ This made me think - do schools improve our children's mental health? Secondary schools seem stricter than ever, my eldest son's school is testament to this (a comment for his pen running out, and his shirt being slightly untucked). Luckily, he is the type of person who laughs it off and we joke about it as a family. However, for an anxious child would this increase their anxiety? For a child with additional needs would this cause distress? I saw a statement recently which said 'If your child was anxious about coming home from school, school would safeguard that child, but why when a child is anxious about coming to school we are told to make sure they attend?' as educators and caregivers this would be something we need to look at. If a person was anxious to attend work as an adult there would be some intervention and support to help that person. Why are we dismissing this with our children? #school #education #mentalhealth

Mental health challenges among students are on the rise, and addressing them requires community effort. Billings’ School District 2 Superintendent, Dr. Erwin Garcia, highlighted alarming statistics about student anxiety and depression, and the need for action. At SIM-MT, we know that early intervention and proper mental health training for healthcare providers can make all the difference. Let’s work together to build stronger support systems for our youth. Read more about this important discussion. 👇 https://hubs.ly/Q02T1ywl0 #MentalHealthMatters #YouthWellbeing #SIMMT #HealthcareTraining

It's heartening to see some states report decreases in youth mental health issues for the first time in several years, as reported in this article from Axios. When I was at Children's Hospital Colorado, we became the first organization in the U.S. to declare a pediatric mental health emergency during the pandemic. This declaration brought increased focus and resources to youth mental health in Colorado. The recent progress is a testament to the commitment made by the state to tackle this issue head-on. By prioritizing mental health and providing the necessary support, we’re seeing many states make positive strides towards better mental health outcomes for our youth. Let's continue to support and invest in the mental well-being of our young people. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gmnkn5y7 #MentalHealth #YouthWellbeing #PandemicRecovery #Colorado #MentalHealthMatters

2024 marks a particularly important milestone — JED’s 25th anniversary. John MacPhee, JED’s CEO, talks about trends that will influence youth mental health and well-being and how JED is working to address these important topics. https://bit.ly/3SQakwj #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #JEDCares #JED25

The mental health crisis among youth is at an all-time high, with alarming statistics underscoring the urgency for comprehensive solutions. Explore how we are working together with The Jed Foundation (JED) to develop a District Comprehensive Approach (DCA) to mental health and suicide prevention in our schools. It’s time to prioritize our students' emotional well-being and ensure they have the support they need to thrive. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gb_sXJDs #YouthMentalHealth #AASA #JEDCares

The latest report from the CDC on youth mental health offers both a sobering reality check and a glimmer of hope. While we've seen some modest improvements in mental health outcomes among high school students between 2021 and 2023, the broader crisis remains concerning. As leaders invested in the future of youth healthcare, these findings underscore the importance of long-term investment in mental health resources. Schools, families, and communities have begun to mobilize around the mental well-being of young people, and the early signs of success point to the effectiveness of these interventions. However, the data also highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses not only mental health services but also the underlying social conditions that contribute to distress, such as safety in schools and community support. #MentalHealth #YouthMentalHealth #YouthHealthcare

Such important work here that schools and communities can learn from...

Most school staff we spoke with shared examples of how they are navigating today’s complex COVID-era education landscape that’s affecting not only students, but all school staff. Schools have been asked to take on issues on such a high scale they have never experienced before in response to new social, emotional and mental health patterns. They recognize that student mental health needs have grown to unprecedented levels, far exceeding staff capacity. Read “When the Lights are Turned On💡Documenting the Impact of COVID-19 on California’s Education Landscape”: https://lnkd.in/gzqg2XGN. #pandemicimpact #edequity #educationequity #educationequality #remotelearning #lowincomestudents #studentsofcolor #california #education #distancelearning #COVID19 #COVID #UCLAresearch #CTSresearch #CaylaJ