By many important metrics, today’s youth are struggling from 2009 to 2019 (pre-pandemic), the rates of depression, anxiety and feelings of worthlessness increased by 40% in youth and from 2007-2018 the youth suicide rate increased by 57%. Since the start of the pandemic, rates of depression and anxiety have doubled. Parents and clinicians are alarmed and wondering what is causing our youth to struggle to such a degree. Unfortunately, the answer appears complex and multifaceted.

This presentation will first discuss some of the startling and unsettling statistics on the mental health crisis facing our youth today, along with data that is suggestive of areas of surprising resilience and reasons for hope. Next, CJ will unpack the confusing and sometimes contradictory data on some of the factors that are likely contributing to the declining mental health in our youth including social media, current events (pandemic, social unrest, wars), increasing academic pressure as well as broader society issues like income inequality, climate change, changes in national identity). Finally, he will provide a framework for helping clinicians and parents support today’s youth in the context of these unprecedented challenges, including practical strategies about how to talk to struggling youth.

After joining this popular speaker, you will be able to:

1) Outline some of the factors facing youth today that are driving the ‘youth mental health crisis’; and,

2) Practice practical strategies about how to ask about contextual stressors that may be exacerbating and/or maintaining mental health difficulties in youth.