Spotlight on Youth Mental Health During Covid
This May Mental Health Month, join Call to Mind for “Spotlight on Youth Mental Health During Covid.”
It’s been over two years since the COVID-19 pandemic threw children and young adults into “survival mode” and forced them to navigate remote school, major disruptions, and face the reality of missed opportunities. As a result, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and leading medical groups, like the American Academy of Pediatrics, have declared youth mental health a national emergency, pointing to ongoing isolation, uncertainty, and grief as triggers.
“Spotlight on Youth Mental Health During Covid” explores the mental health experiences of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic and considers the systems of care available to youth. We’ll examine the role of school, educators, and school mental health professionals on the frontlines of the youth mental health crisis and explore the shared responsibility of schools and healthcare systems to support this nation’s youth.
Through interviews with expert clinicians, educators, and young people – this critical hour-long special will share the lived experience of young people, educators and experts calling for immediate action and improved mental health care for youth.
Contact your local public radio station for broadcast information.
GUESTS
Christina Haddad Gonzalez, LICSW
Director of student support services for public schools in Richfield, Minnesota.
Sharon A. Hoover, PhD
Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Maryland, Co-Director of the National Center for School Mental Health.
Hope Squad Members from Princeton Community Middle School
Left to right: Mrs. Missy Urban, licensed school counselor, seventh-grade history teacher; Izzy Strainic, eighth-grader; Mr. James Stallworth, seventh-grade principal.
PRODUCTION TEAM
Kimberly Adams
The host of Call to Mind’s Spotlight mental health programs. She covers mental health, politics, business and the economy for American Public Media from Washington, DC, where she also serves on the Board of Governors at the National Press Club.
Jessica Bari
Call to Mind’s senior producer, is an award-winning producer and journalist. With an extensive focus in health news and programming—her work has been on national and regional public radio stations, PBS, Discovery channel, History channel and SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio channel.
RESOURCES
Grant Us Hope
Specializes in working with educators, parents and community members to raise awareness and provide tools to support youth mental health needs.
Hope Squad
A peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. Hope Squad members are nominated by their classmates as trustworthy peers and trained by advisors.
JED Foundation
A nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults.
Mental Health America
Helping all people live mentally healthier lives through advocacy, public education, and service.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by mental illness.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential phone & text crisis support. Call or text 988 to get started.
Trevor Project
The world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQI+ youth.
This Is My Brave
Enables high school and college aged students to use storytelling to combat stigma around mental health.
Youth Focus
Providing emergency housing, maternity housing, counseling, and supportive housing.