by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Aug 21, 2024 | In The Media, Newsday
By Bart Jones, Published in Newsday, August 11, 2024
The mental health of teenagers improved somewhat as the COVID-19 pandemic eased, a new federal study says, though experts on Long Island said it remains a major problem, fueled in part by addiction to cellphones and social media.
The number of adolescents reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness dropped slightly between 2021 and 2023, from 42% to 40%, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report released last week. For girls, the percentage dropped from 57% to 53%, while the number of girls who seriously considered suicide fell from 30% to 27%.
Mental health experts on Long Island said that while those numbers may be cause for limited optimism, they underscored that depression, anxiety and other issues remain widespread among teenagers.
“Even though there are some improvements in some of the mental health markers among youth, it is important to note how dramatic the continued mental health crisis is,” said Dr. Victor Fornari, the vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry for Northwell Health.
He noted that four out of every 10 teenagers reported continuous sadness or hopelessness in 2023, meaning they felt so despondent for at least two weeks that they stopped doing their usual activities. About 20% seriously considered suicide, 16% came up with a suicide plan, and 9% attempted suicide, according to the report.
And while the number of teens reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness fell to 40% in 2023, a decade earlier it was 30%.
Dr. Adria Gerber, a licensed clinical psychologist at Stony Brook Medicine, said that “although there has been some improvement … the numbers are daunting.”
The report did not include figures on suicides among teenagers, but according to the CDC, suicide is now the second-leading cause of death after unintentional injury among people ages 10 to 34 in the United States.
Guarded optimism about new numbers
CDC officials said they saw reasons for hope with the latest report.
“One of our main priorities at [the] CDC is improving Americans’ mental health,” Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science, said in a statement. The report shows “improvements to a number of metrics that measure young people’s mental well-being — progress we can build on. However, this work is far from complete.”
Among minority teenagers, the report found some improvement also.
The number of Hispanics who felt persistently sad or hopeless fell from 46% to 42%. Hispanic students who seriously considered attempting suicide dropped from 22% to 18%, while those who made a suicide plan fell from 19% to 16%.
Among Black students, the amount who attempted suicide fell from 14% to 10%, while those injured in a suicide attempt fell from 4% to 2%.
For LGBT+ students, the study found troubling trends: In 2023, nearly three in 10 were bullied at school, and two in 10 attempted suicide.
Some local experts attributed the small improvements to the country emerging from the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and returning to some normalcy. The CDC study was based on data from the 2021 and 2023 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The pandemic erupted in the United States in March 2020.
“Some of it might be coming out on the other side of the pandemic,” Fornari said. “We know that the COVID pandemic demonstrated a dramatic increase in mental health concerns among youth” as they had to stay home for months and engage in remote learning.
Christopher Coluccio, of Blue Point, whose 14-year-old son, also named Christopher, died by suicide in 2021, agreed.
“I have a concern that, as much as it’s a good number, that some of it is just falling off from how people were in COVID and that we’re just getting back to the real numbers,” said Coluccio, who now runs a foundation aimed at combating suicide.
Others said the improvements might be due to more people seeking mental health services as the stigma surrounding the issue slowly dissipates.
“The one good thing about COVID is that we really laser-focused on people’s mental health, because we saw it deteriorating so quickly,” said Jeffrey Friedman, CEO of the nonprofit CN Guidance & Counseling Services in Hicksville.
“We’re seeing more people access services, and when more people access services and enter treatment, we do see a decrease in people experiencing sadness or hopelessness and an increase in their overall mental health,” he said.
His agency has seen a 20% increase in young people receiving mental health assistance since 2022, he said.
Gerber, who works at the Outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department of Stony Brook University Hospital, said that clinic was overwhelmed with requests for help during the early years of the pandemic, with a 200% increase between 2020 and 2022. Social isolation due to the pandemic was causing widespread depression, anxiety and other issues, she said.
“We were getting this huge increase in call volume that we weren’t able to manage,” she said.
Demand for service is still high, she said, but has dropped to a more manageable level.
Access to mental health counseling has improved partly because of another consequence of the pandemic — “telehealth,” or counseling sessions held over Zoom or other programs. Now teenagers don’t have to rely on their parents to drive them to a therapist’s office, she said.
Not all local experts think the mental health situation of teenagers has improved.
“Rates of depression and anxiety are pervasive, particularly among Hispanic girls,” said Kathy Rivera, executive director and CEO of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center in Nassau County. Her agency has “not seen a reduction in the overall need for our vital children’s mental health programs.”
Claudia Boyle, CEO of the Hispanic Counseling Center in Hempstead and Bay Shore, said that while the overall picture for Hispanics nationwide may have improved, “That’s not the case … in Nassau and in Suffolk. I don’t feel that it’s going down.”
Her agency is receiving a growing number of calls for help, with self-harm, hopelessness, thoughts of suicide and other problems common. Even this summer — a season when requests typically drop — the number of calls has remained steady.
“The kids have very few coping skills,” she said. “It’s just a different world.”
Social media and mental health
Many experts attribute some of the ongoing mental health problems to the emergence over the last decade of ubiquitous cellphones and social media.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in 2023 issued an extraordinary public warning that social media poses a threat to the mental health of young people. In June, he called for warning labels on the platforms, like those mandated on cigarette boxes. Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms, he said.
Cellphones, said Northwell’s Fornari, are central to the mental health crisis “because we are holding a handheld computer that has access to the internet and social media. Youth are targeted and bullied on social media in ways that we can’t even imagine. It’s not just being called names in the cafeteria or in the hallway. It really can be quite toxic and quite hurtful.”
Rivera agreed, and said many teens are even turning to the internet for inappropriate mental health assistance.
“The dangers of social media have only intensified over time,” she said. “Many youths, particularly teens, are turning to online platforms for self-diagnosis and treatment or use unregulated mental health apps to fill their need for social connectedness. While these may offer temporary relief, they fail to address the underlying issues, which may exacerbate at a later time.”
Still, some experts have hope that the improvement in the numbers cited by the CDC will continue. They say the growing number of famous people speaking out about their mental health struggles can help end the stigma around the topic.
Simone Biles, considered the greatest gymnast of all time, has spoken openly of her mental health struggles — and how therapy helped her. After withdrawing from five event finals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, she came back to this summer’s games in Paris — and won three gold medals and one silver.
“She’s phenomenal,” Gerber said. “It’s just unbelievable to see the turnaround and to see her performance. I think she brought to the stage just this understanding that she’s human. She’s shown that if you admit what is going on, there is a community out there to help you. They can help you become your best self.”
Link to article, Mental health among nation’s teens takes upward turn, but challenges remain, study says – Newsday
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Aug 8, 2024 | Blog
By Guest Blogger Chloe Cohen
The Children’s Center, a program of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center located within the Nassau County Family Court, provides care and early learning for children (infants to 12 years old) while their parents or guardians handle court matters. Here at The Children’s Center, we partnered with Sesame Street’s “Sesame Workshop,” which provides resources, games, and webinars aimed to aid children of all ages to become “smarter, stronger, and kinder” according to Sesame Street. Throughout the duration of the summer thus far, we have been implementing these educational resources to over 70 children enrolled at the Children’s Center The Workshop features several topics ranging from emotional well-being, art, and friendship to more difficult topics such as divorce and trauma that have proven to educate and open the minds of children to these topics at an understandable and age appropriate level.
By using beloved Sesame Street characters and engaging content, the Workshop creates a safe and supportive environment for children to learn and grow. These resources not only foster healthy habits and resilience but also promote empathy, understanding, and inclusion, ensuring that children are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for a happy, healthy, and successful future.
Healthy Minds and Bodies
The Sesame Workshop features three subsections of countless resources- the first two are “ABCs and 123s”, which outlines core academic subjects and approaches them in an entertaining and educational manner, and the second is “Healthy Minds and Bodies.” I would like to highlight this subsection, as Sesame Street leverages familiar and friendly Sesame Street characters to make learning about health and wellness fun and effective for young children.
While topics such as nutrition, mindfulness, social emotional learning, and hygiene are not typically touched upon by school curriculum, their importance to the development of children remains critical. By learning about topics related to healthy minds and bodies, we are actively working to set the foundation for lifelong habits that can be established at a young age. Understanding these concepts early on helps children to develop self-care routines and habits that can lead to healthier lifestyles. Additionally, learning about emotional well-beingequips children with skills to manage stress, build resilience, and navigate social interactions effectively. Sesame Street highlights a holistic approach within this subsection that fosters overall well-being for developing children by ensuring they are physically active, emotionally balanced, and socially adept.
The Approach to “Tough Topics”
Of the topics presented within the Workshop, we have found the third and final subsection, “Tough Topics”, to be the most effective. Understanding difficult topics such as divorce, trauma, and grief can be extremely hard for young children, and it can be even harder for caregivers to introduce such matters. The online resources for “Tough Topics” are designed to help children and their caregivers navigate sensitive issues with age appropriate and familiar characters who provide them with the tools they need to manage these challenges together. These topics can be difficult to approach for caregivers as they can even be seen as a taboo to be mentioned in schools or among children’s peers. The Sesame Workshop can open the conversation between children and their caregivers as well as allow them to pack their toolbox with skills to get through these difficult times. Additionally, caregivers who review these resources are able to learn how to communicate with their children through these journeys in a healthy way.
These topics, such as divorce and separation, have been especially useful in The Children’s Center as we are located within a family courthouse that regularly deals with these issues. Children who are literate are able to pick the topic they would like to learn more about during their time with us, and a number of children have chosen these tough topics potentially due to their own family situation or the situation of a loved one. By offering these resources to children who may be struggling, we are actively utilizing the Sesame Workshop to its fullest potential, and we hope to continue to make a difference in the lives of these children, though our time together is limited.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Aug 1, 2024 | Anton Media, In The Media, Long Island Business News, The Island Now
Westbury, NY, July 22, 2024 — North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center has opened a lactation room at the Leeds Place— Serving Young People in Westbury to support the needs of breastfeeding mothers.
The Leeds Place is home to a variety of services offered by the Guidance Center, notably Good Beginnings for Babies, a program that provides support, counseling, advocacy, and education for pregnant and parenting teens. The new lactation facility will give all clients and staff members a comfortable area to express milk when nursing.
“Our lactation room provides access to a safe and welcoming space for nursing mothers to pump milk, breastfeed or chestfeed their baby,” says Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust, Director of the Leeds Place. “This contributes to the bonding and well-being of both the child and mother, allowing her to care for the health of her baby without feeling shamed or judged.”
The lactation room was made possible due to a wonderful partnership with the Northwell Health Breastfeeding, Resiliency, Engagement and Empowerment (BFREE) team.
“We are so excited to have partnered with the Guidance Center to support parents by creating a pleasant and private lactation-friendly space for their community and employees,” said Pamela Reichert-Anderson, Program Manager of the BFREE team. “Our team was able to provide tools and resources for lactation support, as well as educate employers about the value of supporting lactation in the workplace. By increasing awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and chestfeeding, we hope to make communities a more accepting place for parents by normalizing human milk feeding.”
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena attended the opening, showing her support for this important initiative. “Nursing helps a mother bond with and nourish her baby at no cost. Thanks to this innovative collaboration, a nursing mother can find privacy in a beautiful, quiet room while her family receives vital mental health or substance misuse counseling,” she said. “That’s possible because the Guidance Center and Northwell Health are dedicated to improving access and support for our families.
“I’m especially thankful to Dr. Nellie Taylor-Walthrust for her 35 years of care at the Guidance Center, North Hempstead’s Substance Misuse Advisory Committee and our Yes We Can Center,” continued Supervisor DeSena. “Whether it’s diagnosing and treating maternal depression, supporting grandparents raising children, or assisting nursing mothers, the Guidance Center always leads the way.”
Click to read in: Anton Media, The Island 360, and LIBN
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Jun 24, 2024 | In The Media, Long Island Business News
Kathy Rivera serves as executive director and CEO for North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, a children’s mental health organization that focuses on bringing hope and healing to young people struggling with a wide range of emotional challenges.
Rivera, who took on the leadership role at the guidance center in June 2021, has been successfully managing the operations of the agency during the unprecedented mental health crisis that was brought on by the pandemic. Over the last few years, there has been an epidemic of anxiety, depression and fear among children and teens.
Rivera, who earned her Bachelor of Arts from Hunter College of the City University of New York and her Master of Social Work from the Hunter College School of Social Work, has 22 years of experience as a social worker, along with expertise in management. Her deep knowledge of clinical treatment, mental health policy and agency operations provides profound insights and perspective on the ever-changing landscape of mental health.
At North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, Rivera leads a team of highly trained psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, alcoholism and substance abuse counselors, mental health counselors, vocational rehabilitation counselors and family advocates, all with expertise and experience in working with children and families. The professionals develop specialized treatment plans for children and their families and employ a team approach to ensure that each child receives appropriate care and is monitored for risk and danger. The guidance center is based in Roslyn Heights, with additional locations in Manhasset and Westbury.
by North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center | Apr 17, 2024 | Anton Community Newspaper, Anton Media, Blog
By Kathy Rivera
Transitioning from school to the job hunt is a daunting yet pivotal phase in the life of every young adult. As your child embarks upon this important journey, they may feel a mixture of excitement, fear, and worry, and not without reason. Job seekers today face more uncertainty than ever, with the latest unemployment rate for young high school graduates falling at 7.9 percent. Recent college graduates fare slightly better with an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent, though this number is nearly double that of all workers with a college degree, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
As parents, it can be difficult to balance positive reinforcement while managing expectations. Unemployment affects not only the job seeker, but the family unit as a whole, hindering the independence you want for your child. The psychological effects of rejection are amplified the longer the job hunt continues, so it is vital to understand what you can do to best support your child throughout this phase of their life.
Be patient
It’s important for parents to understand that the job market is vastly different today than it was when they were young jobseekers. Gone are the days of walking into a business and handing the owner a resume with the expectation of receiving an interview later that week. Today, candidates can expect to send out dozens, if not hundreds of applications with little to show for it. According to Pew Research Center, 39% of Millennials have a Bachelor’s degree or higher, making them the most educated generation to date, and that number continues to climb with Generation Z. These impressive numbers have created a highly competitive job market, resulting in more college graduates finding themselves in roles that don’t use their degree.
Provide encouragement
After submitting countless applications with nothing to show for it, it’s understandable for your child to feel demoralized or even hopeless. However, it is crucial to motivate your child to continue their search and build upon their skill sets, tailor their resumes to specific jobs, and network with professionals in their field. Remind them that they aren’t alone in feeling discouraged, but that there is a job waiting for them.
Establish healthy coping mechanisms
Constant rejection can be difficult to deal with. Let your child know that it’s okay to experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, and frustration when unemployed, but they shouldn’t let that consume them. Encourage them to take breaks from the application process to relax with friends and loved ones, enjoy their hobbies, and take time away from the computer. Stress-management techniques such as breathing exercises, meditation, and mindfulness will help them through overwhelming feelings during the hunt. Self care is crucial in avoiding burnout when applying for jobs and maintaining strong mental health.
Trust that they know what is best
It makes sense to want updates on how the job search is going, especially if your child is living at home. Despite this, try to refrain from asking for updates too frequently, as this can create further pressure for your child. If they have any promising leads, trust that you will be the first to know. Today’s young adults have a better understanding of the current job market than you may, so allow them to explore their options, make mistakes, and grow on their own.
By adopting these approaches, we can not only help our children overcome the burden of unemployment but help them to foster the independence and resilience needed to thrive in a professional landscape, all while maintaining their mental well-being.
