WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) joined 14 of his Senate colleagues in a letter urging the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to prioritize efforts to study and understand the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and young adults. Recent reports have highlighted a substantial increase in anxiety and depression among children and young adults since the beginning of the pandemic—with one study finding that nearly one-third of high school students surveyed reported feeling unhappy or depressed in recent months. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data showing that the proportion of children’s emergency room visits related to mental health had increased significantly during the pandemic.

“No one is immune to the stress that has accompanied the pandemic, and many aspects of this public health crisis have been demonstrated to adversely affect the mental health of children and young adults. Over 13 million people have had coronavirus in our country, and studies have shown that children are more likely to report mental health issues if they personally know someone infected with the coronavirus. A record rate of 22 percent of children had an unemployed parent in the early months of the pandemic, and research shows that children are more likely to report mental health problems when a parent or guardian loses a job,” the senators wrote.

In the letter to NIMH, Senator King and his colleagues call on Director Joshua Gordon to provide information on current steps the agency is taking to study this issue as well as encourage prioritization of these efforts to better understand both the short-term and long-term consequences of the pandemic on mental health in children and young adults. The letter also asks if the agency has any specific initiatives underway to study whether there is a connection between the increased reliance on and use of social media platforms and mental health among teenagers and young adults. 

Senator King is a supportive of providing additional resources to bolster mental health services given the anxiety and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In September, Senator King introduced the Social-Emotional Learning for Families (SELF) Act to provide additional resources to support the mental health and safety of children and improve educational outcomes for students. In May, Senator King participated in a video teleconference with Maine Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services to connect with their staff that work with Maine’s behavioral health organizations and help those coping with substance use disorders and mental health challenges. Near the beginning of the pandemic, Senator King also urged increased investments in mental and behavioral health in future COVID-19 relief legislation. Reports have shown Americans are experiencing negative effects on their mental health due to the coronavirus pandemic – which could pose short- and long-term dangers to their well-being.

Full text of the letter can be found HERE and below.

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Dear Director Gordon: 

We write to request information about the efforts the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is taking to study the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of children and young adults and to encourage NIMH to prioritize these efforts to improve the ability of policymakers to respond to this pressing matter. 

Recent reports have highlighted the increased prevalence of anxiety and depression among children and young adults as the current public health crisis persists. While this pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of many Americans, the impact has been especially severe on teenagers, who rely on friendships and connections while handling the pressure of high school. One recent study found that nearly one-third of surveyed high school students reported feeling unhappy or depressed in recent months, and more than a quarter of those students felt disconnected from teachers, classmates, or their school community.

Earlier this month, the CDC released data showing that the proportion of children’s emergency room visits related to mental health had increased significantly during the pandemic – increasing 31 percent for children between ages 12 and 17 from March to October compared to the same period in 2019. There was also a 24 percent increase in emergency room visits for children between ages 5 and 11. These troubling findings only further highlight concerns about the psychological effects that this pandemic is having on young people, and in particular on adolescents who are members of historically disadvantaged populations.

No one is immune to the stress that has accompanied the pandemic, and many aspects of this public health crisis have been demonstrated to adversely affect the mental health of children and young adults. Over 13 million people have had coronavirus in our country, and studies have shown that children are more likely to report mental health issues if they personally know someone infected with the coronavirus. A record rate of 22 percent of children had an unemployed parent in the early months of the pandemic, and research shows that children are more likely to report mental health problems when a parent or guardian loses a job.

As the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders, we respectfully request that you respond to the following questions: 

1.           What initiatives at NIMH are underway to research the mental health impact of this pandemic on children and young adults, including both the short-term and long-term consequences? 

a.             What steps is NIMH taking to ensure your studies cover a range of communities and populations to account for the different backgrounds and circumstances of children experiencing symptoms of mental health disorders? 

b.             What systems are in place to ensure that these findings are shared with relevant agencies, Congress, and the public to help inform the decisions of policymakers? 

2.           As social media and online platforms emerge as critical communication tools during this pandemic, do you have any specific initiatives underway to study the connection between the increased dependence on social media and mental health for children and teenagers? If so, please explain

3.           Could additional resources be used to facilitate or improve or accelerate the body of research on the intersection of the pandemic and children’s mental health? If so, please describe. 

We look forward to hearing about your research initiatives to protect and improve the health of the American people, including the mental health needs of the youngest members of our society.