{"id":40636,"date":"2022-09-29T13:26:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T17:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtelehealth.com\/?p=40636"},"modified":"2022-09-29T13:26:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T17:26:00","slug":"benefits-of-using-telehealth-in-schools-to-address-the-adolescent-mental-health-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/benefits-of-using-telehealth-in-schools-to-address-the-adolescent-mental-health-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits Of Using Telehealth In Schools To Address The Adolescent Mental Health\u00a0Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

In its early days, telehealth was under-researched, underfunded, and underutilized by a general public largely unaware of the vast potential benefits. Today, following a period of rapid evolution fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth may offer a solution to one of the most pressing problems facing our nation\u2019s youth: mental health crises.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of 2019, one in three high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness<\/a>, a 40 percent increase since 2009. Despite these substantial increases, experts believe the trend is only getting worse. In December of 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an official advisory<\/a> to highlight the urgency of addressing the nation\u2019s youth mental health crisis, stating: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide\u2014and rates have increased over the past decade \u2026 the COVID-19 pandemic further altered their experiences at home, school, and in the community, and the effect on their mental health has been devastating. The future well-being of our country depends on how we support and invest in the next generation. Especially in this moment, as we work to protect the health of Americans in the face of a new variant, we also need to focus on how we can emerge stronger on the other side. This advisory shows us how we can all work together to step up for our children during this dual crisis.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experts at the California Telehealth Research Center (CTRC) believe that school-based health centers (SBHCs) can play a significant role to address mental health crises in adolescent school-aged children.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is A School-Based Health Center? <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

School-based health centers are clinics that exist to ensure our youth have equal and equitable access to care<\/a>. SBHCs employ several different models ranging from clinics with full-time medical and mental health staff to part-time clinics that offer a limited set of health services. Some SBHCs serve only students while others serve the entire community. The highly customizable nature of these clinics allows health professionals to better fill the gaps in equitable access to care.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

California\u2019s School-Based Health Centers <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of California\u2019s 293 school-based health centers<\/a>, 39% are in high schools, 21% are in elementary schools, 10% are in middle schools, and 25% are school-linked through the use of mobile medical vans. Many of these SBHCs serve the state\u2019s most vulnerable children. For example, on campuses with SBHCs, about 70% of students receive free or reduced-price meals<\/a>. Most of California\u2019s SBHCs are located in low-income schools with student populations that experience higher rates of violent injury, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, substance abuse, and sexually risky behaviors.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SBHCs offer high-risk adolescents services that have the potential to save their lives<\/a>, given the impacts of childhood risk factors on higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic illnesses in adulthood. In addition, these services can help high-risk adolescents overcome obstacles to academic success.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental Health Of School-Aged Children: The Statistics  <\/strong>     <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As of 2019, approximately one in six youth<\/a> reported making a suicide plan in the past year, a 44 percent increase since 2009. With suicide now among the top five causes of death among children ages 12-19, action to remedy this crisis is urgently needed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

California\u2019s Numbers <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to data from Kidsdata.org<\/a>, among California\u2019s young people aged 5-19 there were over 37,000 hospital discharges for mental health issues; 12,719 for children ages 5-14; and 25,068 for teens ages 15-19 in 2020 alone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7 Reasons<\/a> Why Supports for Adolescent Mental Health are Important <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n