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Teens have questions about mental health. Newport News wants to answer them.

Daily Press - 4/21/2021

Newport News will host a virtual panel discussion Thursday night about teen mental health issues caused by the pandemic.

The panel discussion titled “Youth Mental Health – Emerging from the Pandemic to New Societal Norms” was scheduled at the request of teenagers enrolled in the Mayor’s Youth Commission and Young Adult Police Commission.

“We’ve had discussions on how members and their friends are experiencing mental health issues due to the pandemic and events taking place in the nation,” Shavar Bland, family services specialist and Mayor’s Youth Commission liaison said in a news release. “They asked the city to provide a way for them to learn how to cope with challenges and find the support they need.”

Two teens will moderate the discussion with experts including Brittni Petersen, a licensed clinical social worker with Agape Foundations Inc.; Tuesdai Johnson, an art therapist and licensed resident in counseling and owner of Closing the Gap, LLC.; and, Antone Green, certified prevention specialist and coordinator of prevention services for the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board.

The discussion will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday on the city’s Facebook page. Teenagers from the Mayor’s Youth Commission and the Young Adult Police Commission have prepared questions, and viewers can submit questions in the comments section.

Mental health insurance claims for teenagers nearly doubled in the early months of the pandemic, according to a Fair Health report released in March. The New York nonprofit analyzed more than 32 billion private health care claims filed for people 22 and younger from January to November 2020.

The analysis found that claims for intentional self-harm, overdoses and substance use disorders were also higher in March and April 2020, compared to the same months the previous year.

“Young people have proven especially vulnerable to mental health issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. School closures, having to learn remotely and isolating from friends due to social distancing have been sources of stress and loneliness,” the report said.

Jessica Nolte, 757-912-1675, jnolte@dailypress.com

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