The Adolescents’ Plea

A collaboration with pediatrician Sevde Felek Boyvat MD, on the under-recognized adolescent mental health crisis that has been affecting our society during the COVID-19 pandemic. Published on June 5th on Graphic Medicine. See it on their website.

On October 19, 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association have joined together to declare a national emergency in children’s mental health. The pandemic’s addition of social isolation, school disruptions, illnesses, loss of caregivers, and economic hardships have quickly exacerbated an already worrisome trend in adolescents’ mental health. The dire need for more resources has persistently been challenged with an overstretched medical system and a national shortage of healthcare workers, leading to delay or even lack of care for thousands of children. Our kids need advocates to listen and speak up with them, as we urge elected officials for more local and federal funding of mental health services in all communities, for kids of all backgrounds. You can read the declaration here: AAP-AACAP-CHA Declaration of a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Special thanks to Dr. Samantha House, DO for her tireless efforts on quality improvement, Dr. Steven Schlozman, MD for helping us embrace the voice of the teenager, and Dr. Joel Bradley, MD for his valuable literary creativity. 

Adobe Illustrator, Procreate for iPad