[Content Notice: This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. Resources follow at the end.]

Within the past few years it has become more and more clear that the U.S. may be in the midst of a severe mental health crisis. The National Institute of Mental health reported that for ages 10-34 suicide is the second leading cause of death. With 49,300 people dying in 2023 because of it. According to NAMI the National Alliance On Mental Illness 1 in 15 adults experience a mental illness and 12 million reported serious thoughts of suicide. 

These rates of mental health issues have been getting worse with each passing year. The American Psychological Institution compared mental health surveys from 2008 to 2017 and found increases in depression across all age groups, with adolescents and young adults being the most affected.

The pandemic also appears to have caused a great hit to mental health as NAMI reports 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. reported that the pandemic had a severe negative impact on their mental health. Beyond this access to treatment and health care seems to be harder and harder to attain.

NAMI reports that of all U.S. adults who sought mental health services, around 18 million experienced delayed or cancelled appointments, 7.3 million experienced delays in receiving prescriptions and 4.9 million were unable to access needed care entirely.

Above all of this, adolescents and minority groups appear to be more at risk and fail to receive treatment at higher rates. According to NAMI 41% of U.S. LGBTQ+ high school students had serious thoughts of suicide in 2023. Meaning queer students are 3x more likely to attempt suicide than their heteronormative counterparts.

With rising depression rates and more and more americans seeking anxiety treatment. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors known as SSRIs are becoming the most prescribed medications to combat depression, anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. United States Secretary of Health RFK Jr. has spoken out recently to dissuade the effectiveness of medication. On January 29th during his confirmation hearing he stated that SSRI’s like Zoloft and Prozac may actually be highly addictive. Stating that his agency was studying a possible link between SSRI’s and violent behaviors like school shootings.

CBS interviewed Patric Kelly the president of the Southern California Psychiatric Society about RFK’s recent statements. Where she responded that his claims were either completely falsified or lacking any tangible evidence. She affirms that the side effects of SSRIs are minor and completely manageable with proper care and research.

Despite all of this MAHA the Make America Healthy Again movement has continued to decry the use of anxiety medications. RFK himself stated that most mental health issues could be solved by simply changing to a better diet and increased exercise. CBS once again cited reports saying that though these simple life changes do improve mental health, proper medication can do as much or more to combat serious disorders.

Beyond this social media has continued to be linked to rising issues of mental health. Studies from the National Institute of Mental Health all reported that prolonged use of media sites were linked to higher risks of several mental health symptoms, especially for younger individuals.

Doctor Maria Militante-Miller a physician at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center affirmed these issues with social media use. “Social media sites are designed to deliver emotions and stimulus as fast as possible. On a physical level you’re being fed massive amounts of information in short time spans, and your brain has to process all of that rapidly. That kind of constant stimulus is incredibly disruptive to normal brain function.”

As stated before teens appear to be at the highest risk of mental health issues. Meaning proper treatment and care is needed more than ever. However many still cannot access these services.

“We still lack proper resources for mental health in very core areas. I’ve treated teens in our psychiatric units and they have to get transferred to cities far from their homes just to receive proper treatment. Imagine the struggle of facing a severe mental disorder as a teenager while being forced to travel hundreds of miles from home.”

Beyond all of this Dr. Militante-Miller stressed the importance of realizing the real toll mental health issues have on your well being. In an age of social media addiction, rising political tension, and so many other issues. We have to be willing to take care of ourselves and step back from all the noise.

So if you are going through something, anything that feels terrifying on your own. Have the courage to reach out, whether its to a doctor, a therapist or just a friend. It will help lift that burden off of your shoulders.