Four Years On: Children’s Mental Health Remains a National Emergency

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Four years after the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) declared a national emergency for children’s mental health, the issue remains urgent. Children nationwide continue to struggle with anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health conditions. Too many families face barriers to accessing pediatric mental health services, often experiencing long delays for specialized care. Emergency departments continue to see higher numbers of youth in mental health crisis.

Mental and behavioral health challenges are common in childhood, and access to effective treatment makes all the difference. Families can trust pediatric mental health professionals, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, pediatricians, and children’s hospitals to provide proven care that helps young people recover, grow, and thrive. The gap between need and services remains widest in under-resourced communities and among diverse groups of children and adolescents, and those with complex mental health needs. It's critical to invest more in the funding and administration of programs that support youth mental health.

Progress is possible with sustained commitment, dedicated funding, and coordination. The administration has acknowledged the youth mental health crisis and the need to address it — our organizations urge policymakers to do just that. We call on leaders to invest in children’s mental health by growing the pediatric mental health workforce, strengthening the Medicaid program, expanding access to a full range of mental and behavioral health services designed to meet children’s needs, and ensuring insurance parity and equitable access to care. Prevention, early identification, and timely access to evidence-based treatment change lives.

“The emergency we declared four years ago has not ended. Children still face unacceptable waits and barriers to care,” said Tami D. Benton, MD, president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. “Child and adolescent psychiatrists know treatment works, and we stand ready to ensure every child has access to the care they deserve.”

“Four years since the emergency declaration, there is still much more work to be done to best support the healthy mental development of young people — from reaching them with the care they need earlier on to ensuring pediatricians have the resources to make timely treatment possible, such as through teleconsultations with mental health teams,” said Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “We continue to urge our country’s leaders to advance policies that prioritize youth mental health.”

“Children’s hospitals are on the front lines of this crisis,” said Matthew Cook, CEO of Children’s Hospital Association. “Hospital staff see the crisis firsthand, and amidst ongoing workforce shortages and funding challenges, they need support. At CHA, we have invested in raising awareness among lawmakers and have championed initiatives like Speak Our Minds to advocate for better mental health care for children. We are committed to collaborating with leaders in the children’s health space and with policymakers to continue expanding services, support families, and protect every child’s future.”

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Children’s Hospital Association remain united in purpose. Four years later, the emergency continues, and so does our resolve. Together, we will keep sounding the alarm, advancing science, and building a future where every child has the stability, care, and opportunity to thrive.