According to CDC data, suicide is the second-leading cause of death
among young people, ages 10-24.
them in their different world where things
are okay and you can just focus on that for
a while,” said Lauren. “We’re all incredibly
devoted to what we do, to put on the best
show we can.”
“I have seen a change in my students,” said
Watkins-Yates. “Super social students that
were the center of attention have become
much quieter and reserved. Also, students
seem to have a much harder time in social
activities and at social events than they used
to. It is almost as if they have been isolated for
so long that when the chance to be around
peers arises, they go crazy. Our students
need an outlet for that pent-up energy.”
The effects of isolation are heightening
this trend. The closure of schools and other
social meeting spots youth normally frequent
has forced students to stay confi ned to
their homes, increasing the rates of anxiety,
depression, and suicidal thoughts for people
of this age group.
Given the increased risk of teen suicide,
being able to recognize the classic symptoms
of depression and suicidal behavior could
mean the difference between life and death.
There are steps parents can take to help
their teenagers continue to navigate this
challenging situation.
COPING WITH DEPRESSION
• LIMIT SCREEN TIME; MONITOR
SLEEP TIME
“COVID has been overwhelming and
being on social media can be too much for
me at times,” said Sophia.
One fi nding from the CDC survey is that
teens reported spending at least nine hours
a day on screens during the pandemic, an
increase of at least three hours per day.
Experts say it is certainly reasonable to
expect that all that screen time could be
exacerbating teens’ feelings.
For some families, staying home means
everyone is spending more time in front of
the TV or online. Excessive screen time and
news consumption can stress teens out. It
can also worsen anxiety and depression —
especially if they aren’t following a schedule
or aren’t getting enough sleep. Work with
your teen to set reasonable expectations for
screen time and ensure they get enough
sleep (at least 9 to 9.5 hours a night). Make
sure cell phones are put away an hour before
bedtime.
• CHECK-IN WITH YOUR CHILD
EACH DAY
It is critical that parents check-in directly
with their children and not shy away from
tough questions. Ask how they’re feeling. Ask
what they are struggling with. Perhaps open
up about your own emotions and struggles
to get the conversation going. Teens are
hungry for this type of communication,
the survey suggests. Roughly 80 percent
of teens said that mental health concerns
are a major issue facing teens today. At the
same time, roughly 80 percent of the survey
respondents said it can feel uncomfortable
to ask for help.
• DEVELOP HEALTHY COPING
SKILLS
To help their teens through the pandemic,
experts urge parents to help them fi nd new
hobbies to keep them active. Writing and
art, in particular, can be a great way for teens
to process their emotions. If a teen already
has a favorite hobby, on the other hand,
reinforcing those favorite activities can help
keep him or her occupied and lessen the
likelihood of suicidal thoughts.
Ensuring the teen stays physically active
during the lockdown is another way to boost
his or her mental health while providing him
or her with a healthy outlet for managing
emotions.
Employ strategies to help decrease anxiety
and build emotional resilience in young
people. For starters, giving young people
outlets to talk about issues that are troubling
them is important. Practicing the rule of
“three good things,” in which you refl ect on
three good things that happened at the end
of the day.
36 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE • May/June • 2021