A PROGRAM BACKED BY RESEARCH
Studies suggest that American children are more stressed today than ever before. Suicides among adolescents have quadrupled since the 1950s. In one major study, only 36% of 7th graders agreed with the statement “I am happy with my life;” and in the past decade, the use of pharmaceuticals to treat emotional disorders has increased 68% for girls, and 30% for boys.
Chronic stress can prevent a young person’s brain from developing properly, leading to significantly impaired learning and emotional regulation. Stress can also lead to health problems later in life including alcoholism, depression, eating disorders, heart disease, and other chronic diseases. For parents and kids, finding effective techniques to reduce stress can be the key to navigating the challenges of childhood and teenage years so that they can reach their full potential.
In 2017, KidsMatter administered community-wide research assessing the key sources of stress in seventh and tenth-grade students in the area.
Over 4,700 students took part in the survey whose results revealed that only 30% of seventh-grade students and 23% of tenth-grade students reported low levels of daily stress (compared to medium to high levels) with pressure coming mainly from their parents, themselves, and through parental conflict.
Additionally, 50% reported rarely or never talking with someone about their stress.
All of this data led to the KidsMatter initiative, State of the Kids, a program that addresses these issues proactively through dynamic school and community programs, practical education, resources, and youth recognition.
STATE OF THE KIDS PROGRAMS
TEXT “REACH” TO 741 741
CRISIS TEXT LINE
PREPARING FOR TESTS
STRESS LESS FOR THE TEST
TEEN ANXIETY REVEALED
EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED
SURVEYING STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS
STATE OF THE KIDS
Let’s plan a program together!
KidsMatter Foundation, Inc. is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. KidsMatter Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 36-4448507. BRIDGE (Basic Registry of Identified Global Entities) number is 5570260059.