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imageThe US surgeon general Dr. Vivek H. Murthy in July at the White House.Credit…Doug Mills / The New York Times

The US surgeon general warned Tuesday that young people are facing “devastating” mental health effects due to the challenges of their generation, including the coronavirus pandemic.

The embassy came as part of a rare public consultation by the country’s top doctor, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, in a 53-page report that found the pandemic exacerbated mental health problems that were already widespread as early as the spring of 2020.

The report cited a significant increase in self-reports of depression, anxiety, and emergency room visits for mental health problems. In the United States, the number of emergency rooms for attempting suicide among adolescent girls rose 51 percent in early 2021 compared to the same period in 2019. For boys, the number rose 4 percent.

Globally, symptoms of anxiety and depression doubled during the pandemic, the report said. However, mental health issues were already on the rise in the United States, with emergency rooms related to depression, anxiety, and similar issues increasing 28 percent from 2007 to 2018.

The reasons are complex and not final. Adolescent brain chemistry and relationships with friends and family are important factors, the report says, as are fast-paced media culture that can leave some young minds helpless.

“Young people are bombarded by the media and popular culture with messages that undermine their self-esteem – telling them that they are not handsome enough, popular enough, smart enough, or rich enough,” wrote Dr. Murthy in the report. “This comes as advancement on legitimate and worrying issues like climate change, income inequality, racial injustice, the opioid epidemic and gun violence feels too slow.”

The general surgeon’s advice is contributing to a growing number of calls for attention and action regarding the mental health of adolescents. In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association joined forces to declare a “national emergency” in the mental health of young people.

Although the blame for youth suffering is often blamed on social media, research suggests that screen time alone isn’t responsible for a crisis. Instead, social media and other online activities work more to reinforce an adolescent’s existing mental state, causing some to feel more stressed and others to experience an increased sense of connectedness.

Bonnie Nagel, a pediatric neuropsychologist at Oregon Health & Science University who treats and examines adolescents, said online interactions don’t seem to meet basic needs for connection.

Recent research, which she co-authored, shows that loneliness is an important predictor of depression and thoughts of suicide.

“I don’t think there’s a real human connection when you talk to someone online who has a false facade,” said Dr. Nail.

At the same time, screen time can crowd out activities known to be critical to physical and mental health, including sleep, exercise, and personal activity, research shows. The current generation of young people express increased levels of loneliness – more than any other age group – despite having spent countless hours being connected through the media.

Authorities and scientists largely agree that the underlying causes have not been adequately researched. Dr. Murthy’s advice calls for more resources to be dedicated to understanding and addressing mental health challenges, and calls for a greater appreciation of mental health as a key factor in overall health.

“This is a moment to call for change,” the report concludes.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/12/07/world/covid-omicron-vaccine