NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — The lights were flashing yellow before the pandemic, but when it comes to kids' mental health, they've now turned red.
Psychological problems among kids are not just more common, they're more severe.
"It is, in my 46-year career, the highest demand that I have ever seen for children's behavioral health," said Donald Parker, president of behavioral health at New Jersey's Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic.
He said COVID-19 had a huge impact.
Parker noted that teens "require connectedness with their peers in order to solve their developmental challenges."
Younger kids had their development disrupted.
Dr. Shetal Shah, a pediatrician and neonatologist from the New York area, said data suggests that about 37% of teenagers, aged 12 to 17, are reporting feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
He said parents should turn to their doctors and school counselors for guidance, but they also have to listen.
"The first thing parents need to do is acknowledge it and say that these stressors aren't going away," Shah added. "We need to figure out tools to manage those stressors."
There are simple coping strategies that are effective.
To hear these strategies and more listen to this week's 880 "In Depth" podcast.
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