Will a shift in learning models help lower the rising rates of depression, suicide among children in Massachusetts?
Updated Dec 15, 2020;
As Massachusetts health officials face the latest surge of coronavirus cases, pediatricians are warning of a growing health crisis in children.
A panel of doctors and child advocates spoke before the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Tuesday about the worsening mental health of school-aged children. The discussion was held just before a vote about proposed changes to K-12 learning across the state to increase the amount of face time students have with teachers. The amendment passed, 7-4.
“We have to recognize this one truth: We’re going to lose more kids to suicide than COVID,” Dr. Mathieu Bermingham, the medical director of children services of Roxbury and a consultant to the Department of the Mental Health in early childhood mental health, told board members Tuesday.