The child and teen mental health crisis is still an issue in the beginning of the 2022-23 school year. While there is some indication that numbers might be stabilizing, remaining the same still means children’s and teens’ mental health are in a crisis. In fact, it is still a major concern that could have a lasting impact on the future of this generation of individuals as they grow and develop.      

The hard truth is that many children and teens need support to develop social skills, coping mechanisms, and emotional intelligence that are critical to lifelong well-being.  

Many of the same mental health challenges for children in the United States have remained consistent from the fall of 2021 to the fall of 2022, according to a new study titled Back to School 2022: The Mental Health and Wellbeing Impact on Children in America.

The study, based on a survey of 1,121 people in the U.S. who are parents of children under the age of 18, shows that the downward mental health trend seems to at least be stabilizing instead of getting worse.

Research revealed parents’ concerns for their children in the current school year. The most commonly cited issue that might negatively impact children’s mental health was COVID-19 (48%). This was closely followed by school safety (46%). Still, while nearly half mention school safety as a possible issue, a majority (81%) think their children feel safe returning to school.

Schools are a vital resource for parents, and they already shoulder much of the burden for stewarding the mental health of children in America. Even so, parents are still looking to them for additional help.

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