Note: This is a rewritten version of the original article.
Potential Future Trends in Youth Mental Health
Many young people have been reporting poor mental health during and following the Covid-19 pandemic. A new study has found that the rate of prescribing antidepressants to this group has also significantly increased. According to the study published in the journal Pediatrics, the number of young people between the ages of 12 and 25 receiving antidepressants rose nearly 64% faster than normal since the Covid-19 outbreak in the United States in March 2020.
The study’s first author, Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, a primary care pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics, highlighted the notable differences in the findings by sex. In female adolescents ages 12 to 17, the dispensing rate increased 130% faster following March 2020, while for female young adults ages 18 to 25, the rate spiked by 60%. Interestingly, there was essentially no change in antidepressant dispensing rate following March 2020 in male young adults, and a surprising decline in male adolescents.
The study’s findings raise important implications and questions regarding the state of youth mental health. As the pandemic continues to impact the lives of young people, it is crucial to analyze the key points and consider potential future trends related to these themes
