Depression among children in the USA is increasing at a great pace, in the wake of which, the country’s health panel has requested for health checkups for children aged between 8 and 18. This appeal has been made at such a point in time when the risk of suicides among American children is augmenting by the day. USA’s Preventive Services Task Force Advisory Group has said that this checkup will help reduce mental stress among children.
The task force, in its research, has found out that out of 7.28 crore children aged up to 18 years in the USA, 85 lakhs of them are suffering from depression, whose treatment is either going on or has been completed. Nevertheless, even now, there are many children who have not been checked for depression yet. Marta Kuwik, member of the task force committee, and Professor, Masan University, has stated that USA’s Preventive Services Task Force is not a regulatory authority, but its suggestion is of high importance.
This initiative will ensure even the checkup of those children whose routine mental health checkup has not taken place.
As per the September report issued by the American National Centre for Health Statistics, the risk of suicides being committed is the most among youth aged between 15 and 24. In a survey conducted from 2020 to 2021, it was found out that 16% of girls aged between 10 and 16 had committed suicides. The risk of committing suicides is more among girls.
