The mental health of youth who face different stresses continues to remain problematic heading towards the year 2026. Even with no end in sight from the effects of the pandemic since 2020, professionals within the mental health system such as Harmony United Psychiatric Care say that the mental health conditions of youth especially in the area of Florida is here to stay and not just for a short period of time, and many youth are still adapting to the after effects of the pandemic, academic challenges, social media pressures, and instability of their families.
Specific concerns expressed by parents of struggling teenage youth include, but are not limited to; parents share that their daughter no longer leaves the house, their son is failing school because of panic attacks, and their normally quiet child has expressed thoughts of suicide. Mental health providers within the mental health system report that there are currently not enough mental health services (i.e., therapy and psychiatry) available to meet the needs of youth; therefore, youth are experiencing very long waits before they can receive mental health services.
As a response to this problem, more health care facilities and educational institutions are expanding their offerings of telehealth by providing night and weekend availability, in addition to incorporating mental health education as part of their curriculum.
Teletherapy allows adolescents to be able to participate in therapy sessions either while attending school or after school hours, and in many instances, adolescents tend to feel much more comfortable disclosing information about themselves when they are participating in therapy from home. Unfortunately, due to a continued shortage of providers in the health care work force, especially in relation to child and adolescent psychiatrists, the current need from adolescents for mental health services will continue to remain unfulfilled.
Moreover, advocates believe it is imperative that families and communities encourage the mental health of their adolescent children. Parents should have conversations with their children about their moods without being judgmental and should directly ask about the child’s use of safe behaviours and how to obtain help before any situation becomes an emergency. According to one provider, “Helping a teenage child with mental health problems in 2026 will be a commitment to supporting that teenager as a whole person, as well as the family who rears them.” Treating mental health as an item on a budget is unacceptable.
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