World Mental Health Day, a day set aside by the World Health Organization to raise awareness for mental health, is on Sunday.
This year, international aid organization UNICEF aims to highlight mental health awareness for youth in particular.
"Hoping that the next generation has more resources, awareness in general, having that mental health be a top priority," said UNICEF Ambassador Jeremy Lin, who played in the NBA for the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers and many others with KCBS Radio's Holly Quan and Dan Mitchinson on Friday.
It's important to destigmatize mental health and have open and honest discussions with young people, said Lin. Early exposure can help kids feel more comfortable speaking about these issues with their parents, friends, and seek out resources.
Awareness has become all the more important in the last couple of years, as the pandemic has been a particular strain on young people.
According to a May 2021 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, parents have been increasingly reporting mental health issues in their children during the pandemic. The study found that in May 2020, a few months after the start of the pandemic, 29% of parents said their child was struggling with mental or emotional health. A bit later, in October 2020, 31% of parents reported worsening mental health in their children.
Lin has been open about his own mental health journey over the years, in the hopes that his experience will help others open up about their own. "Vulnerability breeds vulnerability," he said.
He struggled when he was first a rookie, and reached out to certain people in his life for help. But it wasn’t until later in his career that he decided to share that struggle publicly.
Contrary to what some might think, asking for help is actually a sign of strength, not weakness, said Lin.
Lin will represent UNICEF at the State of the World’s Children report event with Congress on Oct. 13.
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