RALEIGH — July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says those who identify as a minority are less likely to receive a diagnosis and treatment for mental illness, and that minority youth are disproportionately affected.
In 2017, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that among children aged 12 to 17 in the United States, 13% had at least one major depressive episode in the past year, including 9.5% of non-Hispanic blacks, nearly 14% percent of Hispanics, and 16% percent of American Indians or Alaska Natives. The COVID-19 pandemic has only heightened mental health issues in our youth.
To help fight the mental health crisis, the DHHS launched a new Suicide and Crisis Lifeline this month. The new three-digit number, “9-8-8,” is modeled after 911. This new number provides a faster, easier way to get help compared to the previous 10-digit number. When people call or text 988, they are connected with a trained counselor at a crisis center to receive the help they need.
Underage drinking increases the risk for mental illness. A recent study shows that among 12- to 17-year-olds who were current drinkers, 31% exhibited extreme levels of psychological distress, and 39% exhibited serious behavioral problems.
Mental Health Warning Signs to Watch for in Children
A parent should contact medical professionals if they spot any of these signs:
- Feeling sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks
- Threatening or trying to harm oneself
- Experiencing sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing
- Getting in fights or wanting to hurt others
- Showing severe out-of-control behavior
- Not eating, throwing up, or using extreme measures to lose weight
- Severe mood swings
Normalizing mental health discussions in our homes can help shape how we react to and treat the illnesses in all of our communities. Further, adults can help promote different activities that do not involve drinking, but can help better mental health. These include:
- Journaling
- Self-care
- Spending time with family, learning cultural values and traditions
- Exercise, deep breathing exercises, yoga, group fitness classes
- Create an art project
- Spending time outside
Regional Ambassadors with Talk it Out NC, the North Carolina campaign to reduce underage drinking, are here to help parents navigate conversations with their children about drinking. They provide tools and conversation starters to guide parents through the process. Additional mental health resources can be found at NC DHHS Mental Health and Substance Abuse Division. We encourage Parents and children to “Take the Pledge” and say no to underage drinking.
About Talk It Out NC
The North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission launched the Talk It Out NC campaign in 2014. The goal of the multimedia awareness and engagement campaign is to reduce underage drinking by encouraging conversations between responsible adults and young people. Talk It Out NC offers resources for parents and others who need guidance talking to their children about the dangers of underage drinking. This aligns with the ABC Commission’s mission of working to strengthen the public health, wellness, and safety of communities across North Carolina.
Visit www.talkitoutnc.org to get the conversation started.
