AUSTIN (KXAN) — More young children than ever are going to the emergency room for mental health emergencies, according to new research from the American Medical Association.
This comprehensive study was conducted by researchers and physicians over several years from 2015 to 2022. A study found that the number began to rise before the pandemic.
Between 2015 and 2020, more than 200,000 children aged 3 to 17 nationwide were seen in 38 hospitals.
The study found that emergency room visits in this age group increased by 8% each year, with 13% of patients returning within 6 months.
Renowned mental health therapist Trey Tucker says he’s not surprised by these shocking stats because he connects with so many young people through TikTok. He works to educate them about mental health.
“Those of us who have worked with teens for years know they’ve been really under attack and in some areas blissfully obsessed,” Tucker said. said. “And Reflection is totally under attack…they need a deep connection.”
While Tucker uses TikTok to connect with younger generations, other non-educational aspects of social media play a big role in the mental health strains young children are dealing with, he said.
This comes after Texas representatives proposed a bill banning social media for teens under the age of 18. The measure will be discussed at the 88th Congress.
