1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,420 (solemn music) 2 00:00:02,420 --> 00:00:04,723 - [Omar] It's never been easy to be a teenager, 3 00:00:06,340 --> 00:00:08,180 but today's youth are grappling 4 00:00:08,180 --> 00:00:10,663 with a mental health crisis of epic proportions. 5 00:00:12,450 --> 00:00:17,210 New CDC data shows that 44% of teens in the United States 6 00:00:17,210 --> 00:00:20,123 report feeling persistently sad and hopeless. 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:23,009 The startling data demonstrates 8 00:00:23,009 --> 00:00:25,950 how our youth's mental health crisis 9 00:00:25,950 --> 00:00:29,193 has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,260 This isn't a passing phase. 11 00:00:32,260 --> 00:00:34,470 It's a struggle that youth are dealing with now 12 00:00:34,470 --> 00:00:37,370 and will continue to navigate for the rest of their lives. 13 00:00:38,420 --> 00:00:40,000 Today, we're talking to teens 14 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,670 to learn more about how they have dealt with COVID, 15 00:00:42,670 --> 00:00:44,970 world events, and their own personal struggle. 16 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:47,240 My name is Omar Davis. 17 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:49,640 Together with my colleague, Bless Roxwell, 18 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,290 we're taking a look at mental health 19 00:00:51,290 --> 00:00:52,915 with the Youth in Focus. 20 00:00:52,915 --> 00:00:55,498 (solemn music) 21 00:01:01,340 --> 00:01:04,120 - There's a lot of stuff going on in the world 22 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,910 that's not good for us and our mental health. 23 00:01:07,910 --> 00:01:08,790 - Because of COVID, 24 00:01:08,790 --> 00:01:12,270 we weren't really able to interact as well with each other. 25 00:01:12,270 --> 00:01:15,810 I started to feel much more doubtful of myself. 26 00:01:15,810 --> 00:01:19,850 - Are you or anyone that you know dealing with depression? 27 00:01:19,850 --> 00:01:24,360 - When we went into lockdown and I was just home all day, 28 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,600 I definitely, I fell into a depressive episode. 29 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,200 I definitely found myself 30 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:32,830 getting more angrier at the littlest things. 31 00:01:32,830 --> 00:01:34,120 - I was kinda depressed, 32 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,500 but I just put a smile on my face and kept it going. 33 00:01:37,500 --> 00:01:39,380 Tried to hide my emotions. 34 00:01:39,380 --> 00:01:41,680 - I've held it together 'cause I have to hold it together, 35 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:43,800 'cause it's just me, and my mom, and my sister right now 36 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:47,163 so I have to stay strong for them, keep pushing for them. 37 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,940 - Listening to our youth is step one, and very enlightening. 38 00:01:51,940 --> 00:01:54,410 As adults, we have a responsibility to help them 39 00:01:54,410 --> 00:01:57,720 see the positive on navigating this negative space. 40 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,570 - I like reading because you can choose anything. 41 00:02:00,570 --> 00:02:02,060 There's basically books on anything 42 00:02:02,060 --> 00:02:04,930 and it'll take you to an entire world differently. 43 00:02:04,930 --> 00:02:06,220 And what really helps 44 00:02:06,220 --> 00:02:08,430 is if you can visualize what you're reading. 45 00:02:08,430 --> 00:02:10,350 - I have my family, and my friends, 46 00:02:10,350 --> 00:02:12,290 and even school to keep me happy, 47 00:02:12,290 --> 00:02:13,860 even when the rough times are here. 48 00:02:13,860 --> 00:02:17,530 - I started doing yoga and meditation, 49 00:02:17,530 --> 00:02:21,670 as well as working out more, and I got into digital art. 50 00:02:21,670 --> 00:02:24,850 - Honestly, when COVID actually hit, 51 00:02:24,850 --> 00:02:27,210 I started finding stuff about me that I never really knew. 52 00:02:27,210 --> 00:02:30,320 I learned how to cook, I learned how to do baking, 53 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,240 I learned how to do origami, 54 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,820 and I felt like I was more open to different suggestions, 55 00:02:35,820 --> 00:02:37,730 and just to keep myself the way I am 56 00:02:37,730 --> 00:02:39,596 and not to change for anybody else. 57 00:02:39,596 --> 00:02:40,429 - That's what's up. 58 00:02:40,429 --> 00:02:42,095 - Good, I love that message. - That's great. 59 00:02:43,010 --> 00:02:45,300 - [Omar] From the schools to this streets, 60 00:02:45,300 --> 00:02:47,100 the mental health crisis is growing, 61 00:02:48,370 --> 00:02:50,310 For teenagers, restrictions have meant 62 00:02:50,310 --> 00:02:54,830 months of virtual learning, more time isolated from friends, 63 00:02:54,830 --> 00:02:57,313 and the canceling of important social events. 64 00:02:58,260 --> 00:03:01,430 It's a vulnerable age group, even in the best of times, 65 00:03:01,430 --> 00:03:04,200 but new studies show that one in three adolescents 66 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:09,200 will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder by age 18. 67 00:03:09,210 --> 00:03:12,290 - Oh yeah, I just had a panic attack like, 20 minutes ago. 68 00:03:12,290 --> 00:03:13,840 It happens all the time. 69 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:16,010 - Yeah, I get anxiety almost every day. 70 00:03:16,010 --> 00:03:16,870 - Do I get anxiety? 71 00:03:16,870 --> 00:03:17,750 Yeah, I get anxiety. 72 00:03:17,750 --> 00:03:19,150 How I deal with it? 73 00:03:19,150 --> 00:03:20,090 I don't know. 74 00:03:20,090 --> 00:03:22,130 - Every time I get anxiety, I like to sit down 75 00:03:22,130 --> 00:03:24,300 and kind of collect my thoughts a little bit. 76 00:03:24,300 --> 00:03:26,150 Take the time to think things through 77 00:03:26,150 --> 00:03:29,040 rather than kinda have all of these ideas 78 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:30,260 kind of overwhelming me. 79 00:03:30,260 --> 00:03:32,680 - Did the pandemic itself impact your mental health? 80 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,060 - It was like, accelerated living through the pandemic. 81 00:03:35,060 --> 00:03:38,320 - Staying inside all day, not really having anything to do, 82 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,320 having all of your friends kinda spread out from you. 83 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:42,670 It definitely takes a toll on someone. 84 00:03:42,670 --> 00:03:46,130 - Having all that time to think about 85 00:03:46,130 --> 00:03:49,550 not so good things has really impacted it, I think. 86 00:03:49,550 --> 00:03:51,120 I feel if it wouldn't have happened, 87 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,100 my mental health would've been better. 88 00:03:53,100 --> 00:03:54,040 - Everything was through 89 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,260 social media or the phone, FaceTime. 90 00:03:57,260 --> 00:03:59,570 Nothing was face-to-face contact anymore. 91 00:03:59,570 --> 00:04:01,350 I guess it really tested some friendship 92 00:04:01,350 --> 00:04:03,320 and some relationships you had with people, 93 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:04,450 since you couldn't see them. 94 00:04:04,450 --> 00:04:07,440 - It did kind of give me time to be with myself 95 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,920 in a way that I haven't been in a while. 96 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:10,980 - [Omar] Now that we're learning more 97 00:04:10,980 --> 00:04:14,330 about the pandemic's impact on youth's mental health, 98 00:04:14,330 --> 00:04:15,980 it's time to get involved. 99 00:04:15,980 --> 00:04:19,430 That means not only listening, but focusing on organizations 100 00:04:19,430 --> 00:04:23,170 that uplift kids' mental health and emotional awareness. 101 00:04:23,170 --> 00:04:25,681 Next time, we sit with professionals to discuss 102 00:04:25,681 --> 00:04:29,340 the state of mental health and well-being for youth. 103 00:04:29,340 --> 00:04:33,160 We discuss stats, data, and the impact of world events 104 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:35,760 and how they're reframing how our young people feel.