USA (MNN) — Hospitals throughout the United States are looking to expand their capacity in children’s mental health. For example, the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center just announced a $10 million investment in research focused on the early detection of mental health disorders in kids.
Boston Children’s Hospital acquired the Franciscan Children’s Hospital to “enhance mental healthcare services” for its patients in Massachusetts. Over 80 children sought or received psychiatric care at Boston Children’s Hospital in one week during October, Boston Globe reports, more than doubling the pre-pandemic peak number.
Mental health experts recently declared a national emergency in children’s mental health, citing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and existing challenges.
In 2018, suicide was the second leading cause of death for 10- to 24-year olds. Then, the pandemic brought physical isolation, ongoing uncertainty, fear, and grief. Suicide attempts among 12- to 17-year-old girls rose 51-percent in early 2021, compared to the same period in 2019.
In Michigan, Executive Director Dean Vander Mey says parents increasingly turn to Set Free Ministries for help. “Currently, I’m seeing eight different children regularly, ranging from ages five to 15 [years old], and they all have different issues,” Vander Mey says.
“There’s a lot of anxiety; there’s a lot of fear right now.”
Set Free Ministries addresses anxiety, depression, fear, and other common issues from a spiritual health perspective. More about that here.
(Graphic courtesy of Set Free Ministries)
“We are created in God’s image. We’re first spiritual beings, then we’re emotional or psychological, and then we’re physical beings,” Vander Mey says.
“If you don’t deal with the spiritual dimension of who we are, the other two will be negatively affected.”
If a child in your life is struggling, reach out to Set Free Ministries for help.
“Children want to be secure, and whenever there’s change, there’s fear. There’s nothing stable right now; the homes aren’t stable because mom and dad, their jobs are being threatened,” Vander Mey says.
“We are living in very trying times.”
Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of rawpixel.com via Pexels.
