Wedgwood Christian Services hosted its annual “State of the Child” event in Grand Rapids.
Experts discussed the challenges facing kids and families, such as substance use, social media use, and the effects of trauma.
Wedgwood’s President and CEO Dr. Dan Gowdy urged more focus and research on eating disorders which are on the rise in younger children, particularly girls.
“The consequences of this are just huge. Back in the day, boys attempted suicide at a higher rate. Now we’re seeing that flipped. 1 in 7 girls attempts suicide and 1 in 13 boys.”
Gowdy also noted the effects of technology use continues as a key concern of more than 300 West Michigan professionals surveyed. But there’s another worry.
“What I’m a little alarmed at is of those individuals, 81% say they’re seeing burnout in their colleagues. I see a downward decline in youth mental health but what we’re also seeing is an increased burnout in those on the front lines.”
Gowdy says one goal of the event is to encourage those working with youth that they are making a difference despite high numbers of young people seeking help.
“There’s like 250-300 individuals for every counselor. So there just aren’t enough counselors to go around to meet the need.”
Resources and more on the issues can be found on the Wedgwood Christian Services website.
