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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

National task force addresses mental health issues for AR youth

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Wednesday, January 8, 2025   

A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center addresses reforms to address mental health issues for youth in Arkansas and nationwide.

The group's Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force focuses on three key areas: early prevention and support to address mental health and substance use, improving access to quality care and tackling the effects of social media to promote safer and more positive online interactions.

Michele Gazda, health program associate director for the center, said before and during the pandemic, drug overdose numbers nationwide doubled but the numbers are starting to come down.

"Very much a testament to some of the recent policy actions around things like naloxone access and just access to care in general," Gazda asserted. "But I think there's definitely more work to do on that front."

According to the latest data released in the Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data Book, between 2016 and 2020, Arkansas had the third-highest increase in childhood depression and anxiety.

Black children in Arkansas between the ages of 3 and 17 had the highest rate of anxiety or depression at 17% compared to 14.8% of white children. Gazda noted the stigma around youth mental health is changing.

"Folks are much more open and comfortable talking about it," Gazda observed. "I think with youth substance use, that's not as much the case and so I'm very happy to see in the lame duck session a bit of a head nod to some of the challenges around addressing substance use in youths and young adults."

Nationwide, youth mental health hospitalizations increased by 124% from 2016 to 2022.


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