COVID, Conflict, and Climate Change: Why Children’s Mental Health Matters ?

The youth is currently undergoing a serious mental health crisis. An alarming number of children are reporting serious anxiety and depression symptoms. In 2021, one out of five high school students reported seriously considering suicide. This crisis demands immediate attention and action—our children’s well-being depends on it.

Unfortunately, the rapid influx of technology coupled with major global conflicts is making the situation worse. A recent report from Gaza, for instance, found that the incessant attacks and bombings have had a severe psychological toll on the children along the Strip.

As a leading provider of quality healthcare across the world, the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) is committed to turning things around. That’s why we’ve adopted the mantra: children’s mental health matters.

What’s Causing the Mental Health Crisis?

The pandemic may be behind us, but as we enter 2025, multiple studies have found that mental health hasn’t improved since the lockdowns ended. In fact, it has only gotten worse. Some factors that explain this crisis include: 

Social Media 

In 2024, it was estimated that only about 5% of teenagers don’t use social media. Despite the prevalence of these platforms, a few studies show the real impact on our children. While social media has its benefits, we must acknowledge that it brings a host of problems too. 

The US Department of Health and Human Services found, for example, that these platforms contributed to a rise in body image issues, bullying and harassment cases, and the spread of hate-based content.

Global Conflicts

Over the last few months, the situation in Gaza has gone from dire to critical. Even the most conservative figures from September 2024 estimate that 11,000 children have been killed by the Israeli military. This is a devastating outcome of a bloody conflict and one that’s affecting the youth the world over.

Moreover, a majority of the surviving families live on less than $125 a month, barely enough to afford food and essentials. But even the ability to earn this minuscule amount is considered fortunate as 80% of breadwinners are unemployed.

As one of the major contributors of essential supplies and medical services to affected populations in Palestine, IMANA has witnessed the impact on children’s mental health firsthand. Similar outcomes have been noted across conflict-hit regions, making global medical relief services like ours so crucial.

Climate Change 

Another major contributor to the ongoing mental health crisis is the continuous degradation of the climate. Young people are increasingly frustrated by what they see as an apathetic approach to saving the planet. They’re often left questioning whether any of their efforts will matter in the future.

The youth are a lot more likely to suffer from “climate distress,” a condition marked by feelings of fear, anxiety, and depression. Climate change also has less obvious consequences. A sudden shift in weather patterns means hotter summers, colder winters, and increased risks of hurricanes and wildfires. These phenomena impact our mental health in significant ways that can’t be easily quantified. 

At IMANA, we understand that feelings of helplessness can only be countered with hope and faith. Our expertise allows us to identify symptoms of distress, and show young populations that there is a medical approach to help overcome these feelings. 

Why This Needs Your Attention 

While these problems are all global issues that need to be addressed on their own, they’re not the only problems affecting our youth. Factors like bullying, the pressure to achieve, or the risk of substance abuse contribute tremendously. 

Overall, there are too few initiatives to solve these challenges. Consider this statistic: one in five children suffer from a treatable mental health disorder, but only 20% of them receive appropriate care. That’s a staggering number of children who aren’t getting the help they need. 

What We Can Do About It 

The stigma surrounding mental health conditions is somewhat reduced but it’s unfortunately not enough. Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder have no easy fix. Moreover, access to medical care is becoming increasingly out of reach, especially for vulnerable populations living in conflict and climate-affected areas. 

Spread Awareness 

In today’s landscape, increased attention and awareness play a key role. Not only does talking about the problem lead to more innovative solutions, it goes a long way in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health.

For 50 years, IMANA has been an advocate of these principles for American-Muslims. Our team of doctors directly contributes to better healthcare outcomes in sensitive communities around the world.

Through aid packages, direct patient care, and educational programs that focus on breaking stereotypes and cultural stigmas, our work encourages the youth to talk through their problems and implement solutions.

Encourage Faith

As an organization that supports the American-Muslim community, our faith is important to us. However, we do not discriminate in our approach to healthcare.

We encourage young generations to find solace in whatever makes them happy whether it be music, art, journaling, or religious practices. We believe that faith and a sense of purpose go a long way in making the world a kinder place.

Support the IMANA Mission 

In a world where children are left suffering without basic necessities, or access to proper medical care, simply acknowledging our privilege goes a long way. A donation of $2 may not hurt your pockets much but can have a transformative effect on the mental health outcomes of a child in another part of the world. 

Donations are just one option. There are other ways you can support children’s mental health, including following our work, spreading the word, or volunteering for a relief mission.

Follow our pages to learn more.