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Surgeon General Sounds Alarm About Kids' Mental Health. Aired 10:30-11a ET
Aired December 27, 2021 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:30:02]
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, Senator Cardin saying this morning, telling CNN, that, yes, he does believe it's going to be through reconciliation, the simple majority of Democrats, all 50, with the vice president being the tiebreaker, that is going to push this legislation through. He does not think it's going to be the Republicans that are going to help out here, but essentially that Manchin and others will get on board. Take a listen.
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SEN. BEN CARDIN (D-MD): Right now, we don't have any Republican support. And we have to recognize that we have to do this with Democratic votes alone. I think our best strategy is to find a common spot where all Democrats can agree and move that legislation. That's what we're trying to do now. That's what the negotiations are about between the president and Joe Manchin and the speaker of the House and the majority leader in the Senate.
We're also committed as all Democrats to make sure this is fully paid for.
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MALVEAUX: And, Poppy, as he mentioned, he talked about the Democrats. But we did hear from Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican, over the weekend, saying that he has, and has been working with Senator Debbie Stabenow on a mental health provision bill that he believes that if it was a standalone item, that it would get bipartisan support. So, we'll take a look at that and see are there items in which both Democrats and Republicans can work together side by side.
And then also we heard from Congresswoman Jayapal. She is the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and she called on the president through executive order to make some of these things happen. But, as you know, Poppy, that is -- does not carry the weight of law for the president to do so and can be repealed by the next president, so, certainly not permanent, not the best way to go about it. Poppy?
POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: That's exactly right. Suzanne, thanks so much for that reporting. Let's see, New Year, maybe some new agreement ahead. Next, the U.S. surgeon general is sounding the alarm about rising rates of anxiety and depression among children since this pandemic began. A psychologist joins us to explain what signs all of us parents can watch for and how you can focus on your own mental health as well.
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[10:35:00]
HARLOW: Now to a dire warning from the U.S. surgeon general. Dr. Vivek Murthy says children across the country are in a mental health epidemic made worse by nearly two years of isolation from COVID-19. Listen to this.
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DR. VIVEK MURTHY, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: 140,000 kids lost a caregiver. We know that their lives have been turned upside down. They haven't been able to see friends as often as they would. And that's taken a toll. It's why we've seen anxiety and depression rates go up among kids.
But here is the really important part, Dana. Our kids are struggling long before the pandemic. A decade before the pandemic, we saw 40 percent increase in the number of high school students who said they felt persistent feelings of hopelessness or sadness. We had increase in suicide rates among kids to alarming levels. So, our children have been struggling for a while.
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HARLOW: Joining me now to discuss all of this is Lynn Bufka, the American Psychological Association senior director of Practice, Transformation and Quality.
And I was so glad as a parent to see that great interview that Dana did with him yesterday but also scared, thinking as a parent, you know, if this were to happen to my children, how do I cope, what do I do? And he said, the rates of anxiety and depression in children has doubled in the last two years in large part because of COVID. What should parents be looking out for most?
LYNN BUFKA, SENIOR DIRECTOR, PRACTICE TRANSFORMATION AND QUALITY, AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: It's a really important topic. As a parent, the first thing that I have done on some occasions when I've learned of tragic things happening is go hug my kid. So, I totally get it. And the things that we want to look out for are opportunities to talk with our children to really have a sense of what's going on with them, critical things that we look for are changes in behavior, isolating, or perhaps actual over talk of feeling depressed, suicidal.
But sometimes kids are going to hide this and they're going to isolate more. They're going to spend more time locked away. And you're trying to -- as if kids are teenagers, you're trying to figure out if it's normal teenage behavior, is this something more. So, asking questions is important to do as a parent. Kids will talk when you ask questions. HARLOW: When you look at sort of how this has defined -- or if this has yet defined a generation, is it too soon to know? I mean, we have had -- my kids, I think, have been out of school almost more than they've been in school, if that's possible. They're little because of COVID. And it just doesn't have the social weight on them that it does for teenagers, who thrive on being around their peers. How do you think this will define our generation of children?
BUFKA: I mean, this is certainly going to be defining for our children. They're going to know this period, they're going to reference it. For many, they will have developed some new strengths and skills and abilities, and at the same time will have experienced significant losses, whether it's loss of a loved one due to illness or whether it's just not having had opportunity, like going to proms or graduation, things like that. So, it's really going to define how kids are going to talk about themselves pre-pandemic, post-pandemic, whatever language they're going to use. Go ahead.
HARLOW: No. Please finish.
BUFKA: I was going to say we hope that as kids continue to keep connected to peers, that they will continue with their social, emotional development that's so critical right now.
[10:40:08]
And adults around children really need to try to support that in various ways.
HARLOW: What about adults? You know, oftentimes, it's like you're just trying to keep your head above water, keeping food on the table, dinner made, you know, dealing with everything, your job, remote school for your kids oftentimes right now. What are your tips for all adults in terms of just day-to-day coping and management? I know you have a list of some things that can just help us, little things but they can really help us get by.
BUFKA: Yes. It's a lot going on right now. And every time I talk with somebody about these things, I check in on myself as well. So, it's important to try to continue to get good sleep and adequate nutrition and hydration and to be outside in nature, to be active. Those things keep us feeling better. But going beyond that, staying connected to people who can support us, when we're talking with our friends who might be in the same situation as us, you know, maybe we have some venting and complaining about what we're dealing with but try to pivot to other topics because we don't want to get sort of sucked into the negativity around all of it, but try to find the support and connection that really sustains us for the long-term.
Think about what's essential in your life, other things that you can peel back on in order to focus on what's really critical. So, I need to make sure that my kids are able to do virtual schooling, or in a period of virtual schooling, or I've got my job demands. But maybe I peel back some other things right now so that I have myself to be essential to the people in my life that are most important to me.
HARLOW: Yes. Lynn Bufka, thank you, important reminders for all of us. Thanks very much.
For all of you watching and listening, if you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-8255.
We'll be right back.
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[10:45:00]
HARLOW: Markets are up this morning. Take a look, Dow about 190 right now, as a new report shows COVID did not stop your holiday spending. MasterCard revealing this morning that U.S. retail sales soared 8.5 percent between November 1st and Christmas Eve compared to a year ago. It's the fastest growth in 17 years, the economic recovery in the supply chain among the top business stories of the year.
Our Chief Business Correspondent Christine Romans counts down the top ten of 2021.
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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: The billionaire space race, Facebook's biggest crisis, cyberattacks held industries hostage while the economy dashed to reopen. These are the top business stories of 2021.
Number ten, a Reddit rebellion sparked a stock frenzy, enraging Wall Street pros.
ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: A David versus Goliath, amateur traders taking on hedge fund managers.
ROMANS: In January, an army of Reddit day-traders bought up shares in retailer GameStop.
CHRISTIE PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: GameStop shares up nearly 2,000 percent so far this year.
ROMANS: Now, this wasn't due to GameStop's value as a business. The Redditers drove up prices to score profits and hurt establishment investors who bet against struggling companies. A populist uprising armed with no-fee brokerage accounts. Then trading app Robinhood crashed the party.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS HOST: Robinhood announced trading restrictions. It cited recent volatility. GameStop trades are now blocked.
ROMANS: That infuriated traders, and Robinhood's CEO later apologized before Congress.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry for what happened, but what I commit to is making sure that we improve from this.
ROMANS: Number nine, billionaires raced into space, triggering a space tourism boom.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF DOMESTIC CORRESPONDENT: The new space race, the battle of the billionaires.
ROMANS: the modern space race is not between countries but ultra rich men. Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk all funneled their immense wealth into space travel and innovation. And this year, Branson's and Bezos' rivalry took center stage.
Branson took flight on July 11th.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: -- becoming the first person to ride into space aboard a rocket that he helped fund.
ROMANS: Edging out Bezos' own launch by nine days. What followed were several high-profile private space flights sending both celebs --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Captain Kirk himself, the great William Shatner.
ROMANS: -- and wealthy thrill seekers into space.
Number eight, cyberattacks held industries for ransom unless they paid up, like meat supplier JBS USA, in June.
JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: JBS USA is revealing that it paid an $11 million ransom after a cyberattack shut down its entire beef processing operation.
ROMANS: A July attack on software vendor Kaseya compromised hundreds of companies. And in May, hackers forced one of the largest U.S. gas pipelines offline.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: The Colonial Pipeline targeted by a massive cyberattack.
ROMANS: Fuel distribution shuttered across the east coast sparking panic buying and widespread gas shortages.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are still seeing these lines that are building up as people are trying to get gas.
ROMANS: The attacks drew the White House's attention, which urged the private sector to do more to address cybersecurity.
Number seven, as the delta variant spread over the summer, corporate America needed a vaccinated workforce, so it took action.
[10:50:03]
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: United Airlines announced a vaccine mandate for all of its workers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Disney and Walmart are two of the latest to force the issue.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Tyson Foods announced it will require all its workers to be fully vaccinated.
ROMANS: Companies also pushed back return to the office dates in 2022. Despite warnings of employee revolt, most workers complied as cases continued to rise. The federal government stepped announcing vaccine mandates for all large employers.
JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. We've been patient but our patience is wearing thin.
ROMANS: But the Biden administration's efforts have met significant legal challenges.
Number six, Facebook's biggest crisis, confronting wide-ranging scrutiny for real-world harm. Whistleblower Frances Haugen leaked hundreds of internal documents before heading to Capitol Hill.
FRANCES HAUGEN, FACEBOOK WHISTLEBLOWER: Facebook conflicts of interest between its own profits and the common good, Facebook consistently chose to prioritize its profits.
ROMANS: There were many damning revelations for Facebook, including that the company allowed misinformation and extremist groups to flourish. Another bombshell proved Facebook and its platforms harm the mental health of teens. Facebook pushed back claiming the documents were cherry-picked and the present a misleading view, then hosted a flashy rebranding.
MARK ZUCKERBERG, CEO, META: Starting today, our company is now Meta.
ROMANS: A distraction from the P.R. nightmare.
Number five, the pandemic economy roared back to life but proved hard to predict. The sudden restart causing wild swings in economic data.
QUEST: The U.S. has finally recovered to pre-pandemic levels, GDP 6.5 percent in Q2.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: GDP rising at a weaker than expected 2 percent in the third quarter.
ROMANS: Or reports that were difficult to forecast.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Job numbers were a big disappointment, only 235,000 jobs were added.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Economists had predicted a gain of some 728,000 or more.
ROMANS: But, overall, the economy bounced back, sending stocks to record highs, helped long by the Federal Reserve's unprecedented financial stimulus.
Then in November --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Federal Reserve will start to tap the brakes now and also slow down its bond purchases. ROMANS: Soon after, Biden re-nominated Fed Chair Jerome Powell for a second term, citing his steady leadership during the pandemic.
Number four, a labor shortage left businesses struggling and workers in a position of power. This year saw the great resignation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Millions quitting the workforce in recent months, a record 4.4 million quits in September.
ROMANS: Many looking for better jobs. There were also health concerns, and older Americans retired, while lack of child care pushed many women to the sidelines. Still, the shortage left employers scrambling to find workers.
All of these companies raising wages, just announced in recent weeks, Under Armour, Amazon, Chipotle, Amazon.
Staffing issues meant shorter business hours and thousands of canceled flights.
JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: American Airlines has now canceled another 250 flights this morning as the company deals with staffing shortages.
ROMANS: It also gave the American worker leverage, leading to several high-profile strikes on Hollywood sets, at Kellogg, and John Deere, all looking for better pay and benefits.
Number three, historic government aid helped millions struggling from the pandemic. In March, Congress passed the $1.9 trillion American rescue plan.
BIDEN: Well, this historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country.
ROMANS: The scope of the relief was vast. Stimulus checks and expanded child tax credit and enhanced unemployment benefits through September. However, many GOP-led states ended those early citing labor shortages.
About half the states have stopped giving those extra unemployment benefits. They think that was a disincentive.
That was not the only issue. Restaurant aid ran out fast, live venue relief was delayed for months and the eviction moratorium ended before most people received any rental assistance.
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: 90 percent of the $46 billion allotted for this program have not been sent.
ROMANS: Still, the unprecedented relief proved a vital lifeline for many Americans.
Number two, a supply chain nightmare upended the U.S. economy. During the pandemic, the global economy ground to a halt, but this year, and Americans flush with stimulus cash, skyrocketed demand, leaving the supply chain trying and failing to catch up. That meant port congestion.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This bottleneck of container ships as far as the eye can see.
ROMANS: Slowing down the supply of goods amplified by a trucker shortage that led to items absent from shelves, missing critical parts, halting production.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: General Motors say it will stop production on two of its pickup trucks next week.
ROMANS: And higher costs for the American consumer.
Speaking of higher prices, number one, inflation explodes, raising costs for everything Americans buy. This year, consumer prices spiked.
BERMAN: Inflation at levels not seen in 30 years.
[10:55:00]
ROMANS: The downside of an economy bouncing back from the pandemic crash. Americans paid more for clothes, cars, electronics, toys. A red hot housing market triggered record prices. But for many, the most noticeable pinch was at the grocery store.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I normally just went to the grocery store to pick up whatever. But now I tend to price shop.
ROMANS: Or at the pump.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you want to eat steak or you want to fill up your tank?
ROMANS: Government officials kept assured Americans the price hike was temporary, but still there was one upside, fatter paychecks. Wages are rising the most in years. So if higher prices fade away, it could set up American consumers up well for 2022.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARLOW: Christine, thank you for that. Thanks for joining us today. I'll see you right back here tomorrow morning. I'm Poppy harlow. At This Hour with Amara Walker is next.
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