These long months of masks, social distancing, shutdowns and remote learning have been unbearably hard on everyone. Especially out nation's young people. In less than a month's time 15 student in the Mason City Schools district were hospitalized for suicidal thoughts. In a nation where 40% of people are now grappling with at least one mental health or drug related problem, Mason's superintendent put out a plea for help.
The school district is not alone. There's an epidemic of depression facing young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently asked young adults if they had thought about suicide in the past 30 days; 1 of 4 said they had.
Joining Cincinnati Edition to discuss teens and mental health are Mason City Schools Superintendent Jonathan Cooper; Mason High School Senior Ayesha Chaudhry; and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Partial Hospitalization Program Medical Director Courtney Cinko, M.D.
Listen to Cincinnati Edition live at noon M-F. Audio for this segment will be uploaded after 4 p.m. ET.
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