Looking back: Kids and mental health in 2021

Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have continued to study pediatric mental health issues, including those related to the pandemic.

We compiled a list of Healio stories about pediatric mental health from the past year.

Prevalence of depression, anxiety doubles among kids during pandemic

The global prevalence of symptoms of clinically elevated depression and anxiety has likely doubled among children during the pandemic, researchers reported in JAMA Pediatrics. Read more.

Teen girls who suffered sexual abuse may face more online victimization, exploitation
Teen girls who experienced sexual abuse were more likely than their peers to be cyberbullied, according to a study published in Nature Human Behavior. Read more.

College students report issues with distance learning

College age students reported issues with distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, including trouble concentrating, limited access to technology, food insecurity and mental health issues, according to researchers. Read more.

AAP, other pediatric groups declare 'national emergency' over mental health

In October, the AAP, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Children’s Hospital Association declared that a “worsening crisis in child and adolescent mental health” brought on by COVID-19 “and the ongoing struggle for racial justice” constitutes a national emergency. Read more.

Length of stay for pediatric mental health ED visits has significantly increased

Rates of prolonged length of stay for pediatric mental health ED visits significantly increased between 2005 and 2015 compared with non-mental health-related ED visits, according to study results published in Pediatrics. Read more.

Study links gun violence to pediatric ED visits for mental health

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics linked exposure to gun violence to a rise in pediatric ED visits for mental health issues, especially for children who witnessed such actions. Read more.

Adolescents with psychotic experiences at risk for loneliness

Loneliness may signal underlying psychotic experiences among adolescents, according to results of a population-based birth cohort study published in Schizophrenia Research. Read more.

Youth stress levels lower at start of COVID-19 pandemic than before

Research conducted in Korea found that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic lessened severe emotional response in young people compared with pre-pandemic levels, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

AAP continues push for pediatric mental health support during pandemic
The AAP updated its guidance for pediatric mental health support in light of findings that the prevalence of anxiety and depression among children has doubled during the pandemic. Read more.