What parents need to know

UPDATE ON THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS FACING KIDS. MEDICAL EXPERTS SAY MORE THAN FOUR YEARS AFTER THEY DECLARED A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, THE ISSUE REMAINS URGENT. JOINING US NOW, DOCTOR ERIC ALI, A PSYCHOLOGIST AT BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. DOCTOR LEE, IT’S GREAT TO SEE YOU. HAPPY MONDAY. SO YOU REMEMBER IN 2021, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, AND THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION ALL MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT. SO HOW DO THEY DESCRIBE THE SITUATION NOW? WHAT? HERE WE ARE, WHAT, FOUR YEARS LATER? YEAH. I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE FOLLOWING UP ON THIS. SO THEY’RE UNFORTUNATELY SAYING MORE OF THE SAME, RIGHT. THAT CHILDREN AROUND THE COUNTRY CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH DIFFICULTIES. THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. INFLUENTIAL GROUPS ARE ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THAT THERE’S MANY FAMILIES THAT STILL FACE BARRIERS TO CARE. SO WHETHER THAT’S GOING TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM BECAUSE YOU’RE IN CRISIS, HAVING TO WAIT A LONG TIME TO CONNECT WITH THE PEDIATRIC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST, WE’RE CONTINUING TO SEE THE HIGHEST NEED AMONG CHILDREN AND COMMUNITIES WHO ARE COMING FROM UNDER-RESOURCED BACKGROUNDS AND, OF COURSE, THOSE WITH COMPLEX NEEDS. AND IT REALLY JUST POINTS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING TO INVEST IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. DOCTOR, HOW DO WE COMPARE TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY? YEAH, SO MASSACHUSETTS IS AN INTERESTING CASE BECAUSE THE STATE AND HOSPITALS LIKE MINE HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD IN THE YEARS SINCE THIS INITIAL CRISIS TO THINK ABOUT THINGS LIKE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTERS, INCREASING SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS, INCREASING CAPACITY TO TREAT THE SICKEST KIDS. AND THERE IS NOW DATA THAT SHOWING THAT MASSACHUSETTS, OUT OF ALL THE STATES, IS ACTUALLY CURRENTLY FOURTH BEST IN THE COUNTRY IN REGARDS TO HAVING A LOWER PREVALENCE OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND GREATER ACCESS TO PREVENTATIVE OR SPECIALTY CARE. SO WE REALLY NEED TO KIND OF KEEP OUR EYE ON THE BALL TO BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION, BECAUSE THERE’S STILL SO MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT AREN’T GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE ABLE TO ACCESS WHAT IT IS THAT THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT. SO OBVIOUSLY THAT’S ENCOURAGING. BUT WHAT IF A CHILD DOES NEED HELP WITH WITH ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION? SHOULD WHO SHOULD THEIR PARENTS CALL FIRST? GREAT QUESTION. AGAIN, SO MANY FAMILIES FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE GOING RIGHT TO THEIR PEDIATRICIANS, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE EXPERTS WHO’VE KNOWN YOUR CHILD FOR A LONG TIME. AND WE ALL THE MASSACHUSETTS ALSO HAS SOME REALLY GREAT RESOURCES. IF YOU NEED SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY. SO THERE’S SOMETHING CALLED THE MASSACHUSETTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HELPLINE. AND THIS WAS DESIGNED DIRECTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS IN 2021 TO ADDRESS JUST THE KINDS OF NEEDS WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. SO FAMILIES CAN CALL, YOU CAN TEXT, YOU CAN CHAT WITH A TRAINED CLINICIAN OR PEER SPECIALIST, 24 OVER SEVEN, 365 DAYS A YEAR, AND THEY WILL HELP CONNECT YOU TO SUPPORTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY. AND WHAT’S REALLY NICE ABOUT THE MASSACHUSETTS HELPLINE IS THAT YOU CAN CALL FOR YOURSELF. YOU CAN ALSO CALL FOR A FAMILY MEMBER OR A LOVED ONE. THEY CAN GIVE YOU RESOURCES. YOU CAN ALSO TALK TO THEM WHEN YOU’RE IN CRISIS. AND THEN OF COURSE, I ALWAYS REMIND FAMILIES THAT 988 DIALING 988 JUST LIKE 911. THAT’S OUR SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE. YOU CAN ALSO CALL, CHAT OR TEXT THEM AT ANY TIME TO TALK TO SOMEONE TRAINED. IF YOUR CHILD IS HAVING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE, ALWAYS A GREAT REMINDER AND ALWAYS GREAT TO TALK WITH

Kids’ mental health emergency persists: What parents need to know

Updated: 4:57 PM EST Nov 3, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Four years after a national emergency was declared, the kids’ mental health crisis remains urgent. Dr. Erica Lee, a psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, shares insights and advice for parents seeking help.

Four years after a national emergency was declared, the kids’ mental health crisis remains urgent. Dr. Erica Lee, a psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, shares insights and advice for parents seeking help.