CREATE YOUR VOICE MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGN | APRIL – SEPT 2021 WEEK 6: For those ages 13-18, COVID-19 ushered in a drastic increase in mental health concerns. Compared to April of 2019, April of 2020 showed a 119.3% increase in overdose-related health claims, a 62.7% increase in substance use disorder claims, a 93.6% increase in generalized anxiety, a 83.9% increase in major depressive disorder, and a 89.7% increase in adjustment disorder. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/03/teens-mental-health-claims-skyrocket-pandemic #createyourvoice #createhealthtxst @createlabtxst Why is this significant? --The increases in mental health concerns ushered in by COVID are correlated with reduced activity, social isolation, family stress, and loss of resources. provided by the school environment like mental health services and food access. --The loss of access to these resources and the social isolation brought about by COVID are also similar to what happens for school-aged youth each year when they leave the school environment for the summer. --Travis et al. calls this phenomenon “summer strain,” a term used to highlight the student stress and mental health concerns that continue to affect student lives throughout the summer, without the added buffer of school structure and support. --The circumstances that produce summer strain have occurred on a larger scale during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the negative mental health consequences of this phenomenon can be seen in the stark increase in youth mental health claims. Message to Youth: Reach out for community and support even when you have to be physically apart. Whether it is a phone call, text, e-mail, social media, or other way, find ways to connect to the healthy and safe parts of your communities. Physical isolation does not have to be social isolation. - Dr. Raphael Travis https://www.instagram.com/p/CO-sqHnrAnh/?igshid=ifhb2zaq7zff