(WAVY) — Hampton Roads is facing a shortage of youth mental health psychiatrists, and according to the Virginia Mental Health Access Program, that applies to most counties in the state, also.
The Virginia Mental Health Access Program’s tracking of the critical issue dates back to 2018. Between the increasing rates of suicide, depression and anxiety in young people and mounted with the growing lack of access to care, there a huge cause for concern.
A 2022 Virginia school survey of climate and working conditions in VMAP’s analysis showed 40% of Virginia high schoolers claimed they felt sad or hopeless almost daily for more than two consecutive weeks, while 56% admitted to making a plan to die by suicide…