By Mrudula Rao, MD and Michael Arambula, MD

Recognizing Mental Health in Youth

By Mrudula Rao, MD and Michael Arambula, MD

uicide is the second leading cause of death in young people, ages 10-24 in the United States (CDC, 2020). Approximately 19% of all high school students (grades 9-12) seriously considered suicide during the past year (YRBS) and 9% actually made a suicide attempt during the past year (CDC, 2020).

Not far from home, suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people, ages 10-24 in Texas (CDC, 2020). In 2020, the total number of suicide deaths in Bexar County youth were 20, compared to 10 total deaths in 2014, 6 in 2012 and 3 in 2010. The data shows that suicides in youth have gone up in Bexar County over the past 10 years.

Similarly, 19% of all high school students seriously considered suicide during the past year and 10% made a suicide attempt during the past year (CDC, 2020). Autopsy studies have further shown that 90% of young people who died by suicide had a mental health condition, of which most were untreated, under-treated or undiagnosed. More recently, clinical research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially undermined the emotional well-being of all our citizens. The need for mental health and suicide awareness is now more important than ever.

The onset of more serious and chronic mental illnesses typically occurs during childhood and adolescence, during a time when students spend most of their lives in the classroom. Our students learn about science, mathematics, history, language and art to better prepare them for life as a young adult, whether it be at work or in college (or both), and starting a family. The time our students spend in the classroom is also a fertile opportunity for physical and mental health education as well.

In the recent 87th Texas Legislative Session, the Texas Medical Association urged state legislators to make mental health education and awareness part of mandated school curriculum in Texas from elementary through high school. However, the legislators only “encourage” and “recommend” actions be done.

Adolescents who receive physical and mental health education will better understand what their minds and bodies are going through as they develop; and they are more likely to seek assistance from the people who surround them in their lives (like a friend, teammate, teacher or parent). They are more likely to notice a change in the emotional

Swell-being of their school friends too. The iron is hot at the moment, and the time to invest a few classroom hours in mental health education and awareness in our children’s lives would be a timely, productive and long-lasting health policy. To see a complete mental health resource guide for schools, please visit https://www.fitcitysa.com/mental-health-resource-guide-forschools/. To see the TMA’s policy on mental health education in schools, visit https://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=57369. To see the AMA’s policy on mental health education in schools, please visit https://policysearch.ama-assn.org/policyfinder/detail/D-345. 994%20Increasing%20Detection%20of%20Mental%20Illness%20an d%20Encouraging%20Education?uri=%2FAMADoc%2Fdirectives.x ml-0-1165.xml. Supporting Organizations: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Bexar County Psychiatric Society, Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department, Psychiatrists, Pediatricians, Parents, City of San Antonio Mayor’s Fitness Council Executive Committee, NAMI, PBS/KLRN, Humana, Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance, Bexar County Medical Society, Texas Schools Teachers/Superintendents and various other medical entities.

Mrudula Rao, MD is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Division of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. Dr. Rao is in private practice, specializing in the treatment of adult, adolescent and child psychiatric disorders. She is the past President of the Bexar County Psychiatric Society and is a member of the Bexar County Medical Society.

Michael Arambula, MD is the current President of the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians and the immediate past President of the Texas Medical Board. Dr. Arambula practices General and Forensic Psychiatry. He is a member of the Bexar County Medical Society.