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How to help kids and teens with their mental health

Kids may be back in the classroom, but it is not back to normal.
Last year, nearly a third of Minnesota students reported they struggle with long-term mental health problems. Girls, in particular, say they are feeling persistent sadness. Rates of depression and anxiety have skyrocketed. And there aren’t enough mental health professionals to help.
Schools are on the front line of this fight, and many say this crisis could usher in a new way of looking at education.
This special In Focus explores how to help students deal with the mental health crisis by talking with three experts: Benita Amedee, Cedric Weatherspoon and Keela Kuhlers, who work daily with children and teenagers. How can K-12 schools and parents increase mental wellness in kids and their communities?
1. Anxiety and depression look different in every kid

Keela Kuhlers: Anxiety can be expressed through discomfort in their body and that might be an upset stomach, fast heartbeat or racing thoughts. It can also be expressed through their behavior. At school it could be kids leaving the classroom, kids chattering a lot, kids that look unfocused. Sometimes there’s tears, sometimes there’s frequent trips to the nurse or to the bathroom and it can look like they are not following the rules or not following expectations, when actually, there is discomfort inside of them.
Benita Amedee: Anxiety could look like ADHD. It can be confused with that, as they can be moving around and being nervous. Depression can be voiced by behaviors and withdrawal. Their bodies are trying to protect themselves and think they are in danger. During the pandemic, the whole world was scary to kids, their bodies were on fire, on edge.
2. Suicidal ideation has increased in the Black community

Cedric Weatherspoon: I primarily work with African American families and the pandemic was very impactful to them. They were dealing with a lot of disparities in mental and physical health. I would say in the Black community suicidal attempts or ideation have increased a lot. A lot of parents reach out when their kids are thinking differently, feeling hopeless, and feeling like their world is falling apart. 

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