THE CURRENT STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH
COVID-19 has exacerbated the rates of mental health challenges among children and youth, especially among those who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, + (LGBTQ+). In fact, the Surgeon General declared child and adolescent mental health a national emergency in 2021. We are still in a crisis.
THE DATA
Suicide rates for Black students in Maryland doubled during the pandemic lockdown, while suicide rates among White students fell by 50%. Source: Bray, M. J. C., Daneshvari, N. O., Radhakrishnan, I., et al. (2020, December 16). Racial differences in statewide suicide mortality trends in Maryland during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry, 78(4), 444–447.
70% of LGBTQ students reported having “poor” mental health most of the time or always during the pandemic, and 42% seriously considered attempting suicide during the past year. Source: The Trevor Project, National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021
Underserved and underrepresented youth and young adults are in crisis and need immediate support. Data suggests that the most effective way of addressing the mental health needs of youth and young adults is to provide school based services.
Incidents affecting student safety (131%), involving violence (104%), and suicide and self-harm (87%) increased significantly among school-age students in 2020–21. Source: Gaggle. (2021). Through the Gaggle lens: The state of student safety.
OUR SOLUTION
Kaleidoscope leverages technology to provide direct mental health services, consultancy and consultation to children, youth and their families with a focus on those who are underserved and marginalized. The KSCOPE Wellness and Education app provides valuable information about mental wellness and links children and youth to mental health clinicians who are just as diverse as they are. The app can be downloaded for free on both The App Store and Google Play. Kaleidoscope also works with caring adults and gives them tools to effectively address the unique social-emotional needs of children and youth to include young people who have experienced racial trauma and trauma experienced due to being an “other.”