Aug 10, 2022 - COVID
Pennsylvania kids saw 27.5% jump in anxiety and depression at COVID onset
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Pennsylvania children were diagnosed with anxiety or depression at a rate slightly above the national average at the onset of the pandemic, per a new report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Why it matters: The mental health crisis among children and teens is considered a national emergency by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Ahead of a new school year and the stresses that accompany it, the report draws wider attention to an issue that's top of mind for many educators and families.
By the numbers: 13% of Pennsylvania kids — roughly 1 in 8 — received a diagnosis in 2020, up 27.5% from 2016. That outpaces a national increase of 25.5% over the same period.
- Pennsylvania ranks 21st for overall child well-being based on economic, education, health and community measurements.
The big picture: Young people of color disproportionately report symptoms of anxiety or depression, Axios' Caitlin Owens reports.