Statement from California Health & Human Services Agency Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly on the Declaration of a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and National Children’s Hospital Association
“As a primary care pediatrician and a father of four, I have seen first-hand the impacts of the pandemic on the mental health of California’s children and youth. This is not new. The mental health and substance use challenges facing children and youth were widespread prior to the pandemic but have only been further exacerbated …