In an opinion piece for The Hill (1/7) “Congress Blog,” Bernadette Melnyk, dean of Ohio State University’s School of Nursing, writes that “one of every four to five American adolescents has some kind of mental health challenge, many of them struggling with various levels of depression and anxiety, yet many do not receive treatment.” Melnyk also comments that an additional 15 percent of youngsters are overweight and 17 percent are obese, suggesting an “unaddressed national crisis.”
Melnyk is critical of the education system for not addressing the issue and says “we must do better recognizing what is obvious and implementing solutions that make a difference in classrooms.” She mentions an NIH-funded study that showed the benefits of teaching teens cognitive-behavioral skills.
Related Links:
— “For the mental and physical health of students,” Bernadette Melnyk, The Hill, January 6, 2016.