Many young people today live on the fringes of society, with few opportunities for psychological and physical development. As a result, they are susceptible to violence, a manifestation of their desire for material goods and power. As a result, the international community has begun to recognize the growing crisis facing the world’s youth.
According to the Code Blue report, adolescent suicide rates increased fivefold between 2007 and 2018. In the United States, suicide rates for youth will reach nearly six thousand by 2020, according to early estimates. The numbers are frightening. The American Academy of Pediatrics and U.S. Surgeon General are concerned about the rising number of suicide attempts and reports.
According to the NRS report, youth who call the hotline in crisis are increasingly runaways or homeless. While the number of crisis connections has decreased overall, the percentage of youth whose circumstances led them to seek assistance in the streets has increased. Furthermore, the number of youth on the street or in shelters has grown by 30%.
The Surgeon General has issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory highlighting the urgency of addressing this growing crisis affecting our youth. In addition to calling for an immediate response to the COVID-19 epidemic, he outlines a comprehensive set of recommendations for the improvement of the mental health of youth, adolescents, and young adults.
In order to combat these issues, adults in school settings should try to understand the root causes of the behavior of these youths. This may result in a more effective intervention compared to suspension and may have more positive long-term effects. A number of law enforcement agencies are also implementing crisis intervention team (CIT) training for school resource officers. In North Carolina, 57 percent of school resource officers have successfully completed this type of training.
The impact of these problems is far reaching, affecting the individuals, their families, and their communities. These young people are often disassociated from friends, school, and community groups, leaving them feeling lost and unmoored. This is especially true for youth who have experienced trauma or identified with marginalized groups. This can impact their health in profound ways. It can also disrupt their lives and the health of their loved ones. They may also feel isolated from their families.
Crisis intervention services are available at any time to help youth in crisis. These hotlines are anonymous and confidential and are available in more than 170 languages. They also offer free 24-hour crisis intervention and prevention services. They offer support to youth who feel overwhelmed or suicidal. If you feel like calling one of these hotlines is not enough, you can call a peer advocate.
Youth mental health first aid programs train caring adults to respond to the needs of young people in crisis. During the training, participants learn the most common mental health challenges faced by young people. They are provided with a 5-step action plan that can help them deal with these conditions. The training covers issues such as substance abuse, anxiety, eating disorders, and psychosis.