#Youthmentalhealth

A US opinion piece warns against asking children if they are depressed.
The article reacts to a new Illinois law mandating annual mental-health screening in public schools. (Meridian Magazine)

The debate has clear lessons for Thai educators and health officials.
Thailand faces rising youth mental-health concerns and evolving school supports. (WHO Thailand)

Illinois recently passed a law to expand school mental-health screenings.
The law plans annual screening for students in grades three through twelve by 2027. (Gov. Pritzker press release)

The Illinois Controversy That Could Shape Thailand’s Future

A fierce debate erupts across American classrooms. Should schools routinely ask every child if they feel depressed? Illinois just mandated exactly that—sparking passionate arguments that reach far beyond Chicago suburbs into the heart of how Thai educators approach student wellbeing.

The controversy began when an opinion writer at Meridian Magazine issued a stark warning to parents. Stop asking children about depression, she urged. Her alarm centers on Illinois’ groundbreaking law requiring annual mental health screenings for all public school students from third grade through high school by 2027.

A major new study of secondary schools in England finds that banning smartphones on school grounds or at break times does not, by itself, produce better grades, healthier sleep or improved mental wellbeing among pupils — a result that shifts the debate from banning devices to reducing total screen time and reshaping how young people use digital technology. Researchers compared student outcomes across schools with different phone rules and found that the single strongest predictor of worse academic and health measures was the amount of time pupils spent on smartphones and social media, rather than whether schools imposed on-site bans. The finding matters for Thai educators and parents because it suggests policy and cultural interventions beyond simple exclusion are needed to protect learning, mental health and social development in a country where young people are highly connected.

As Princeton University intensifies its efforts to help students in mental health crises, questions remain about whether even the most well-resourced campuses can fully meet the needs of struggling youth. The university’s attempts to strike a balance between academic rigor and mental well-being echo a much broader challenge, one that is playing out across the United States and around the globe as young people face rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide.

A new wave of research and expert insight is putting the spotlight on parental influence as a key factor in raising confident, resilient children in today’s climate of cultural confusion over gender and identity. Recent commentary by an educational psychologist and child development expert, featured in a July 2025 WORLD Radio podcast, underscores that parents play a far greater role than often believed in helping their children navigate questions about identity, belonging, and self-worth, even as external voices grow louder and more complex (wng.org).

The viral popularity of mental health content on TikTok has led to a surge in misleading advice and misconceptions, with new research highlighted by The Guardian revealing that misinformation ranges from trivializing serious conditions to promoting unproven treatments. Experts warn that this trend not only stokes confusion but also risks worsening stigma and driving unsafe self-diagnosis—an especially troubling development for young Thais heavily active on the platform.

Mental health issues have become a frontline concern in Thai society, particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic intensified stress and isolation among youth and working adults. With TikTok ranking among the most downloaded apps in Thailand and millions of Thai users turning to the platform for support and information, the spread of health misinformation is a pressing national challenge. According to Mental Health Department statistics, Thailand saw significant increases in reported cases of depression and anxiety since 2020, and digital platforms are now a primary health resource for many young adults (Bangkok Post).

A striking new study has revealed that nearly a third of college students in the United States are planning to drop out of university, citing emotional stress and mental health challenges as key factors. This finding, reported in El Adelantado, underscores the growing mental health crisis facing young people in higher education—a trend with far-reaching implications, including for students and educators in Thailand.

This surge in student stress has come to the forefront as college life post-pandemic presents fresh hurdles, from academic pressures and financial worries to pervasive feelings of isolation. For Thai readers, these findings mirror familiar concerns in local universities, where recent surveys suggest that emotional wellbeing is an increasing challenge for both faculty and students. As societies in both the U.S. and Thailand compete in a globally demanding education landscape, the mental health toll is increasingly hard to ignore.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital—recognized across the US for its leadership in pediatric health—has announced a major rebranding and expansion of its high-profile children’s mental health program. The “On Our Sleeves” initiative, which since 2018 has distributed free educational resources to over 15 million Americans, will now move forward as The Kids Mental Health Foundation, signaling a deepened mission to address the growing mental health crisis among youth nationwide (source).

This change comes at a pivotal moment for parents, educators, and health professionals. The US Surgeon General and other health authorities have described children’s mental health as a “national crisis.” In Thailand, as in the US, teachers and families report rising anxieties about the long-term effects of academic stress, social media, and the lingering aftermath of COVID-19 on youth wellbeing—a concern very much echoed in the recent US survey conducted by The Kids Mental Health Foundation, where 70% of nearly 540 parents said they are worried about their children’s mental health, and almost 40% said they are “very concerned” (source).

An intensifying mental health crisis among American youth has pushed hundreds of desperate parents to an agonizing decision: relinquishing custody of their own children to the state, simply to obtain the urgent, specialized mental health care unavailable to them otherwise. Recent stories brought to light by USA TODAY, including the harrowing experience of Nina Richtman in Iowa, highlight not only immense personal suffering but also systemic gaps in health and social support across the United States, reverberating with important lessons for Thai families, policymakers, and healthcare providers alike (USA TODAY 2025).

Depression has reached record highs in the United States, with new research from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealing a stark increase in prevalence and persistent disparities in access to treatment. Drawing data from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, the recent survey—conducted between August 2021 and August 2023—sheds light on both the growing scale of the problem and the obstacles many face in seeking help. As similar trends emerge in Thailand and across Asia, the findings carry important lessons for the Kingdom and the broader region amidst evolving mental health challenges.

In a bold move to address the growing mental health needs among young people, Ohio has announced the statewide expansion of its Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program, bringing rapid, on-the-ground mental health support to youth in crisis across all 88 counties. Governor Mike DeWine made the announcement at Hopewell Elementary School in Dublin City Schools, highlighting the urgency of providing immediate help to children and adolescents experiencing mental, emotional, or behavioral distress. “MRSS is one of the most important tools we have at our disposal to respond quickly and effectively when a child is experiencing a crisis,” Governor DeWine explained, underscoring the initiative’s potential to protect and empower the state’s youth population (10tv.com).

A new wave of research highlights a troubling connection between high social media use and the amplification of delusional thinking, raising fresh concerns about the impact of online platforms on mental health. The phenomenon, described as “Delusion Amplification by Social Media,” points to a worrying trend: while digital tools connect millions, they may also embolden certain mental health disorders, like narcissism, paranoia, and body dysmorphia, particularly among vulnerable users (The Conversation, PsyPost).

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin recently opened up about his own struggles with depression and took to Instagram to share a series of personal tips aimed at helping others facing similar challenges. The singer, who was on tour in Hong Kong at the time, spoke candidly about the importance of mental health and shared some practical techniques that have been beneficial to his own wellbeing, hoping his experience might offer comfort and inspiration to fans worldwide, including in Thailand, where the prevalence of depression is a growing health concern (NME).