From the beginning of the fighting: worsening and increase in cases of depression in children

Disturbing new data on the rate of depression and anxiety disorders among children and teenagers: in the prestigious journal "Pediatrics", the American Association reported an increase in the rate of depression among children, twice as much among girls. An Israeli expert tells of a significant increase that is also observed in Israel, and it has even worsened since Black Sabbath.

Because of the war: every sixth parent suffers from depression of a high degree of severity

First data on an increase in the rate of depression and anxiety disorders among children began to appear around the world already in the first year of the corona epidemic. It started with parents' and children's own reports of feeling pressure and worry, sadness and loneliness, anxiety and depression. Later, these data were matched to surveys carried out in different countries.

In Israel, too, an alarming increase has been observed in recent years: in a survey by the "Harov" institute conducted in the first two months of the epidemic in 2020, it emerged that about a quarter of the children expressed great concern for their physical health, their educational situation and their family's economic status.

In a survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics that year, it was found that about a quarter of the parents reported that after the first lockdown due to the corona virus, there was a change for the worse in the emotional state of the children at home, and before the third lockdown the rate of those reporting a worsening rose to 33%. The data from the health insurance funds also indicated an increase in the level of depression and anxiety in children: for example, data from the general health services that were presented indicated that in 2020 the number of children who first started medication for depression or anxiety increased almost threefold compared to the year before.

In the new study published in the new issue of the American Journal of Pediatrics, it was found that out of the data of about a quarter of a million people, prescriptions for antidepressants were given to 65% of the girls and 36% of the boys.

The distribution of medicines was accelerated as of March 2020 at a rate of 130% among girls aged 12-17, and increased by 57% among girls aged 18-25. The rate of use among boys and girls remained at 36% and did not change. The authors of the report said that the findings probably reflect an increase in the mental distress of the children and called for additional studies that also examined the fact that the use of antidepressants did not increase among boys, despite data that actually showed an increase in reports of sadness, hopelessness and suicide attempts among adolescent boys.

"The Corona period has presented humanity with a huge challenge in the mental coping of the entire population," says Dr. Miriam Fink, head of the mental health system of the National Health Fund in the Jerusalem district, "the need to deal with a crisis that has caused great anxiety and the need for strict closures and social distancing has increased symptoms and disorders Mentality, especially among populations at risk who suffered from anxiety and social isolation. In Israel, over the past few years we have seen in community mental health clinics a more significant increase in new cases of young people and adults who are dealing with depression, anxiety and eating disorders, and therefore also an increasing use of anti-anxiety and depression medications. The growing need for mental health services continues to be a strategic challenge in the current dealing with the consequences of the complex period of the Corona and also with the results of the war which continues to expand the circle of those dealing with anxiety, stress and post-trauma."