Mental health support for young people is in short supply

+ Oppenheimer and Sanskrit verses US Edition - Today's top story: As the mental health crisis in children and teens worsens, the dire shortage of mental health providers is preventing young people from getting the help they need [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 August 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Kenya intervention in Haiti highlights region’s inaction]( - [Why the U.S. slice of the space economy is shrinking]( - [How warming planet will change Hawaii’s climate]( Lead story Any parent of a child with mental health struggles can likely relate to the uncertainty, frustration, desperation and hopelessness involved in looking for help and hitting walls at every step. Among the barriers: the expense of psychiatry and therapy, which often isn’t covered by insurance; learning that a provider is not accepting new patients or has a long waitlist; and the time commitment during work and school hours. At the same time that more and more U.S. children and teens are needing mental health support, [providers are in increasingly short supply]( – which is only deepening the crisis, writes Steven Berkowitz, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. As a result of the high demand and shortage of providers, some children are being referred to emergency departments or asked to wait at home, leaving children and their families in impossible situations. Berkowitz pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to be a provider in the current climate and explains why treating mental health needs in children can be more difficult than in adults. And finally, last month we brought you our first piece of investigative journalism, a fascinating look at [online criminal gangs and their growing use of sham bank accounts](. Nieman Journalism Lab talked to our Beth Daley and Kurt Eichenwald [about this new expansion of our journalism](. Amanda Mascarelli Senior Health and Medicine Editor Anxiety, depression and suicide among U.S. teens continue to increase. Paolo Cordoni/iStock via Getty Images Plus [As the mental health crisis in children and teens worsens, the dire shortage of mental health providers is preventing young people from getting the help they need]( Steven Berkowitz, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Millions of young people in the US are suffering, whether from abuse at home, pressure from social media or exposure to violence. But navigating the mental health care system can be disheartening. Ethics + Religion - [Oppenheimer often used Sanskrit verses, and the Bhagavad Gita was special for him − but not in the way Christopher Nolan’s film depicts it]( Vasudha Narayanan, University of Florida Oppenheimer’s knowledge of Sanskrit literature was more than cursory. He used quotes and parables from Sanskrit texts as a guide to right actions in his life. 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But few governments are willing to intervene. - [War in Ukraine is a warning to China of the risks in attacking Taiwan]( Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University Foreign policy experts are divided on whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine makes it more or less likely that China will launch a similar attack on Taiwan. Here are the arguments on both sides. Science + Technology - [New data reveal US space economy’s output is shrinking – an economist explains in 3 charts]( Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University With commercial space tourism on the rise and NASA planning to return to the Moon, you might think the US space economy is booming – but the data paint a more complex picture. - [The orgasm gap and why women climax less than men]( Laurie Mintz, University of Florida Women have fewer orgasms than men. But this gap is cultural, not biological. Closing it is possible, both on a societal and personal level. Environment + Energy - [Michigan pipeline standoff could affect water protection and Indigenous rights across the US]( Mike Shriberg, University of Michigan A pipeline that has carried Canadian oil and gas across Wisconsin and Michigan for 70 years has become a symbol of fossil fuel politics and a test of local regulatory power. - [Hawaii’s climate future: Dry regions get drier with global warming, increasing fire risk − while wet areas get wetter]( Kevin Hamilton, University of Hawaii Projections for Hawaii’s climate future are raising concerns about fire risk, ecosystems and freshwater supplies for homes and agriculture. Trending on site - [Fulton County charges Donald Trump with racketeering, other felonies – a Georgia election law expert explains 5 key things to know]( - [The bubbly chemistry behind carbonated beverages]( - [Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? A nutritionist explains the science behind ‘functional’ foods]( Today's graphic 📈 [Recipients reported their main motivation for seeking a free skin exam. 37% reported concerns about a skin lesion. Other reasons include the expense of visiting a dermatologist, curiosity, encouraged by a spouse or family member or past experience.]( From the story, [Skin cancer screening guidelines can seem confusing – three skin cancer researchers explain when to consider getting checked]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Spoutible]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. 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