Recent Report from Lurie Children’s Finds Approximately Half of Illinois Youth Continued to Experience Worsening Mental Health

The latest Voices of Child Health report from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago highlights data on the state of Illinois’ youth mental health. The survey was conducted four times from June 2022-March 2024. The proportion of Illinois children who had one or more worsening mental symptoms at each survey time point was as follows: fifty percent in June 2022, fifty-two percent in May 2023, fifty-four percent in October 2023 and forty-nine percent in March 2024. This suggests that the proportion of youth experiencing worsening mental health was relatively stable across the previous two years. Other studies that used national samples conducted before, during and after the pandemic have not found evidence of youth mental health returning to pre-pandemic levels.

“Across the four study time points, we saw that about half of children and adolescents were experiencing worsening mental health symptoms. These findings reiterate the continued need to support child and adolescent mental health in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Marie Heffernan, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of Voices of Child Health in Chicago at Lurie Children’s.

Being easily frustrated was the most consistently reported worsening symptom across all four time points, affecting approximately one in five children. Other frequently reported symptoms included moodiness, anxiety, and trouble concentrating. The survey found no major differences in mental health trends based on a child’s gender or age, however, rural children in Illinois were more likely to report worsening symptoms compared to urban peers at one of the survey time points (May 2023).

The research team also found an association between parental stress and children's mental health. Parents who reported that their current stress level was higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to have children exhibiting worsening mental health symptoms. This underscores the importance of addressing parental well-being as part of broader mental health support strategies. This is in line with a recent U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory highlighting the importance of supporting parent mental health and well-being.

“There is a lot of evidence that shows a close connection between parents’ mental health and their children’s mental health. It is critical to provide mental health supports for parents as well as children, to bolster the well-being of the whole family system,” said Michelle Macy, MD, MS, Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and Scientific Director of Community, Population Health, and Outcomes at Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.  

Practical strategies to support a child and adolescent mental health, and to promote and caregiver mental health include:

• Foster Safe and Nurturing Relationships: Ensure children feel secure and supported within the family.
• Maintain Predictable Routines: Establish regular routines, such as bedtime rituals and family meals, to provide stability.
• Encourage Play: Engage in activities that allow children to express themselves creatively and emotionally.
• Promote Open Communication: Maintain open lines of communication to address concerns early and effectively.

Population-focused child health research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through the Mary Ann & J. Milburn Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research and Evaluation Center at Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute. Manne Research Institute is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of new knowledge. Lurie Children’s is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals in U.S. News & World Report and is the pediatric training affiliate for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Last year, the hospital served more than 221,000 children from 47 states and 30 countries.