BUFFALO (WBEN) -
"The toll it's having on our children's mental and physical health is pretty significant," said Allegra Jaros, President of Oishei Children's Hospital. "And that's for a community that's already battling having the second highest poverty level for our children in the nation."
According to the CDC, from March to October of this year, the proportion of emergency room visits related to mental health increased by 24% for children 5-11 and 31% in adolescents 12-17, compared to the same period from last year.
Given the uncertainty of what will happen with local school districts, especially those within yellow zones, there's more concern of increased levels of anxiety and depression.
"I fully expect with the potential switch back from kids that are fully going to school to hybrid or stay-at-home mode, that we'll see increases in this," said Dr. Michael Cummings, Vice Chair of Psychiatry at UB.
Hamburg Superintendent Michael Cornell says mental health is part of the reason they want to remain open during the yellow zone restrictions and mandated testing.
"We want them with us; we want them here so we can help them," said Cornell. "We're the primary reporting for cases to CPS for educational and child neglect and abuse. We're often the most accessible, available opportunity for students to get mental health services through our amazing psychologists and social workers."
Cummings says parents should be vigilant in making sure their kids are doing well during this time of flux and uncertainty.
"I think for all of our kids we want to really be paying attention, making sure we're checking in with them a couple time a day, not just about their schoolwork, not just about whether they got their assignments handed in, but just kind of how they're doing."
