Pandemic strains mental health of nation’s youth

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As today’s young people endure the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a crisis of another kind is coming to the forefront for parents across the country.

Lockdowns, social distancing, school closures, masks — all are contributing factors to rising numbers in depression, drug and alcohol use and suicide attempts among America’s youth, according to motivational speaker and Sports World representative Carmine Azzato, who spoke at a Crawfordsville Rotary Club meeting Wednesday.

“This has never happened before,” Azzato said. “Parents are finally crying out on public and social media. They are now the teachers. They’re being the counselors. They’re trying to figure this thing out.

“And in the interim, they’re seeing their kids implode and explode.”

Azzato, a former professional wrestler, now delivers motivational speeches and support services at school assemblies across the country as Indianapolis
regional manager of Sports World, a nonprofit aimed at supporting the social-emotional and physical health of students.

And despite the pandemic, Azzato and Sports World are reaching more students than ever before by using online services to promote a “message of hope.”

“We’ve impacted in the last five days — five days — 3,469 young people,” he said. “We couldn’t do that in a school assembly. It just wouldn’t work. This is not because Sports World started our digital outreaches; this is because parents are concerned.”

In the past, students were provided comment cards which they could complete and give back to the professional athletes speaking at the assemblies. Though services have now become fully digitized, students and parents continue to reach out to Sports World and other organizations for help.

Azzato read aloud a few parent examples which the nonprofit recently received. One such comment came from a mother in Fishers.

“A mother said, ‘The risk of mental health for our children and families at home outweighs the very small percentage of COVID complications,’” he read. “‘We need our town health department to talk about the number of mental health illnesses rising along with the number of cases. This is a serious problem and I feel we need to be the voice for our children.’

“That’s what we need to be,” Azzato said. “Business owners, doctors, lawyers, teachers — we need to be the voice because their voice is not being heard. They’re hiding, and they’re ashamed, and they hide until the moment they take their life. That’s what’s happening.”

Another mother said: My daughter is eight years old and has thoughts of not living. She was just diagnosed with depression last week. The masks, not being able to go out, school closings (and) no socializing has caused more damage than the actual virus.

Yet another mother reached out to Sports World, saying: I am currently trying to keep my oldest daughter alive (due to) anxiety and depression that was greatly exacerbated by the lockdown. Completely sent her over the edge [sic], and she has been checked into a psychiatric mental facility. For an All-American, athletic and incredibly smart and beautiful 19 year old, this is not a joke. We aren’t just on vacation. This is affecting people with serious conditions.

The only silver lining to this health crisis, Azzato said, is that parents’ eyes are being opened as they come to terms with the rising issue.

However, parents need the help of friends, family, businesses, churches and public services if anything is to change.

“It’s a blessing that the parents see it,” he said. “But since our organization began, (our founder) made sure we passed the baton. That was his main goal. He said nothing can happen unless we pass the baton, and we’re useless without community.”

In addition to outreach efforts, Sports World provides a 24-hour helpline for students and young adults dealing with anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide.

The helpline can be initiated by texting the word “CHOICE” to 494949, or by visiting www.sportsworld.org to speak with a “soulmedic.” General information can be obtained by calling 1-800-832-6546.

Sports World can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with each using the handle @SportsWorldInc.

The Youth Service Bureau also hosts a number of programs geared toward supporting the needs of Montgomery County’s youth. For more information, visit www.mcysb.org or call 765-362-0694.

The nonprofit depends on support from the public to finance its operations, so donations are welcome. Those interested my give online at www.sportsworld.org/give or by texting “EMPOWER” to 707070.


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