(Washington D.C., Tuesday, September 20, 2022) – Our nation’s children and teens are in mental health crisis. The severity and pervasiveness of this crisis led the American Academy of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry to declare a national emergency. Shortly after the U.S. Surgeon General  issued an advisory on youth mental health. Last year, these organizations put together the “Sound the Alarm” initiative which provides an advocacy site with resources. Research shows that 50% of mental health conditions begin before the age of 14 and go unaddressed for an average of 11 years or more. Adult addiction, incarceration, homelessness, and violence can often be traced to unaddressed or undertreated issues in mental health in childhood and adolescence. People, programs and professionals are urgently needed where children live, learn, and play: their communities and schools.

Amy Wimpey Knight, President of CHA, discusses this mental health crisis and the new initiative Preventing Youth Suicide. She can also discuss bipartisan legislation that CHA supports and what mental health professionals need to see in infrastructure and resource changes to have the most impact.