Rising Mental Health Issues Amidst the COVID Surge

The surge in COVID cases in 2020 led to a decrease in pediatric emergency room visits, likely due to people avoiding hospitals. However, there was a notable increase in teenagers visiting the ER for issues like suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm. Studies have shown a significant rise in suicide rates, ER visits, addictions, anxiety, and depressive disorders, with a Gallup poll revealing a 29% likelihood of adults being diagnosed with depression in their lifetime. The rates were higher in individuals aged 18 to 44, and women had a higher lifetime diagnosis rate compared to men. The increase in empirical events like ER visits and suicide attempts indicates a clear rise in mental health issues, despite the increased awareness and discussions around mental health, there still exists a gap between talking about mental health and receiving effective treatment.