Why Youth Mental Health Is Declining — and What Parents Can Do About It

According to a study conducted at Bar-Ilan University as part of an international research project on youth mental health and well-being, 25% of teenagers were experiencing emotional distress as of 2019. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, that number rose to 35% by 2021. While the pandemic significantly impacted social life and increased feelings of isolation, it is important to note that even before it, a quarter of youth were already struggling emotionally.

Professor Moskovitz, who served as the professional director of Pardesia Hospital, conducted a long-term behavioral and psychological study that tracked participants over many years. Initially, he examined how many adolescents required psychiatric support such as medication and hospitalization to function, and found the rate to be 1 in 3,000. However, when he followed up with the same individuals 20 years later, the number had risen dramatically to 13 out of 100, or 13% of the group. Since then, the numbers have continued to increase.

The Root Cause: Human Relationships

Rabbi Yechiel Yaakovson, a well-known educator and author of “Do Not Sin Against the Child,” explained in a lecture on education and dropout prevention that the root of this troubling trend lies largely in human relationships. “Much of this development,” he said, “is a direct result of the relationships we have as people, between parents and children, and between teachers and students. Relationships that lack humanity lead to emotional harm. It is painful that this is happening in our hands, but it is also within our power to prevent it within our homes.”

According to him, the core of effective parenting is warmth and love. Expressions of affection and genuine human connection make up 70% of a child’s upbringing. In today’s world, due to pressures and busy schedules, children often receive less attention and quality time from their parents — even though they deeply need it for their emotional well-being.

The Power of Simple, Consistent Connection

“Almost every night I travel from lecture to lecture,” he says, “and all I speak about are the basics. I’m not introducing anything new. But today we are wounded, and I need to remind people of what should be obvious: love, warmth, encouragement, and human connection.”

He adds, “Parents are willing to invest in enrichment programs, extracurricular activities, and expensive toys — but what about a listening heart? What about a truly attentive ear? In the previous generation, we didn’t have Lego blocks, but we had parents.”

Today, many parents invest heavily in developmental activities and enrichment, which may ease their conscience and make them feel they’ve fulfilled their role. But, he argues, if we returned to the simple practices of earlier generations, such as sitting with a child and singing bedtime songs, many of today’s emotional struggles could be prevented. “When a child goes to sleep feeling loved — hugged, listened to, and reassured, it sinks deep into the soul. It builds a person.”

He also shared that a leading rabbinic figure once told him, during a consultation with a concerned father, that in earlier times, parents who failed to show care and warmth toward their children were harshly criticized. “Children are souls entrusted to their parents,” the rabbi said. “If a parent cannot meet their emotional needs, they must ensure someone else does.”

Rabbi Yaakovson concludes, “This is what I speak about everywhere: human connection. Looking a child in the eyes, listening to them, hugging them, talking to them — even about their silliness. This is what a child needs in order to grow. This is the essence of education. This is the entire secret.”