In a rare move, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a public health advisory warning of the emerging youth mental health crisis. The 53-page advisory was released Tuesday by Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy.

Murthy says the emerging crisis has been exacerbated by pandemic hardships. Not only are symptoms of depression and anxiety skyrocketing, so are displays of negative emotions and behavior.

“Advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that need the nation’s immediate awareness and action” the document states, in an attempt to demonstrate the severity of the warning.

The document goes on to call for a broad-based and rapid response from the government, social media companies, community groups, schools, teachers, parents and even students – and listed resources available to them.

Depression and anxiety have doubled, with an entire 25% of youth experiencing depressive symptoms and 20% experiencing anxiety symptoms. Negative emotions or behaviors like impulsivity and irritability are also increasing.

The advisory notes that the pandemic-related safety measures which reduced in-person interactions among children friends, social supports and professionals such as teachers, school counselors, pediatricians and child welfare workers resulted in isolation which made it “harder to recognize signs of child abuse, mental health concerns and other challenges.”

While children of all backgrounds have always faced and are at risk for mental health challenges, the nearly two years of disruption from the pandemic “took a toll and worsened their mental health – especially for such groups as immigrants, students with disabilities and students of color from low-income families.”

Also, many students of all ages and levels are having trouble adjusting when in-person schooling resumes.