The lack of social workers and facilities in northern Maine along with COVID-19 aftereffects, drug addiction and homelessness have escalated the problem.
Complex emotions among middle-schoolers are nothing new, but the sadness and hopelessness of students in two of Maine’s poorest counties prior to the COVID-19 pandemic have health officials and youth advocates concerned.
In Piscataquis County, 30 percent of middle school students experienced feeling so sad or hopeless for more than two weeks in a row that they stopped doing usual activities, compared with the statewide rate of 24.
Kids in these 2 Maine counties are at greater risk for poor mental health observer-me.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from observer-me.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The 2022 Maine Shared Community Health Needs Assessment also highlights concerns about mental health, access to health care and rising rates of substance use.