Americans equate mental health with economic stability – which we know thanks to Elmo from ‘Sesame Street’

We can give these points to the eternal schoolboy, a cherry red Muppet with a strange voice.

Remember back in January when Elmo, who Sesame Street fame, it’s written in X, “Elmo’s coming in! How’s everyone doing?” and he flooded? A simple, but broad question prompted a sly response from Jimmy John, “it’s the 800th day of January.” he joked, “ran out of milk.” Chance the Rapper wasn’t doing too bad, writing, “Honestly, I’m in a pretty good place rn.”

Elmo is coming in! How are all the people living?

— Elmo (@elmo) January 29, 2024

Some on social media, however, found their mental health weakened during the winter. From crying it was Monday to admitting they were struggling a lot, users aired their grief, suffering, depression, confusion and anxiety amid trash fire memes.

Elmo told his fans, in part, “Yo! Elmo’s glad you asked! Elmo learned it’s important to ask a friend how they’re doing. Elmo will visit again soon, friends!

And he stepped in, with this latest study designed to assess the mental health of Americans. Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit organization behind PBS’s Sesame Streetannounced the findings last week.

“We could not have predicted the incredible response that followed the Elmo post,” said Samantha Maltin, Sesame Workshop’s executive vice president and chief marketing and brand officer, in a news release about and results. “The tweet, and the campaign it spawned, reached over 300 million people, with over 3 million heartfelt comments.

As Elmo’s viral season and this new study show, the most pressing issue facing American families right now is mental health and emotional well-being.

The report is based on a survey of more than 2,000 people aged 16 and over conducted in May. The data were averaged to represent the US population, generations divided into these age groups:

• Youth: 16 to 17
• Gen Z: 18 to 27
• A thousand years: 28 to 43
• Gen X: 44 to 59
• Boomers: 60+

In addition, surveys were conducted of approximately 300 preschool and K–12 teachers, including principals and counselors.

COVID continues to negatively affect the lives of Americans

Americans don’t just value mental health figuratively; they want to see those in power take action. A majority (81%) agreed with the statement, “The leaders of our organizations must set their own priorities.”

Perhaps many people in the US want to shine a light on mental health because theirs is at risk. The majority of survey respondents (79%) said their health was negatively affected by at least one factor, and more than half of young people (54%) and a third of parents (32%) said health problems mental health affects their lives negatively. or the welfare of their families. Overall, more than a quarter (27%) cited their mental and family health as a source of negativity. Lack of access to quality education and learning opportunities was another cause of indifference in a quarter of parents (25%).

Although the public health emergency of COVID-19 may have ended and the virus has moved from epidemic to pandemic status, most parents (61%) reported that their families are still have negative effects of the coronavirus. Nearly half of all respondents (44%)—and majorities of Black (57%), Hispanic (56%), and LGBTQ+ (55%) respondents—said the same.

Survey respondents ranked these negative effects as the most detrimental to their health:

• Personal finance/economic security: 41%
• Your/your family’s current health: 28%
• Your family’s current emotional/mental health: 27%
• Effects of climate change: 23%
• Not having a strong network of friends or family23%
• Racism or discrimination23%
• Drug abuse: 16%
• Not being able to be your true self: 15%
• Lack of access to quality education/learning opportunities: 14%

“It’s heartening to see a growing openness to discussing mental health today,” Maltin said. “Americans understand that mental health is an important issue, which is why the demand for our work has never been greater.

“By celebrating everyday joys, teaching children to understand their emotions, and helping parents recognize the signs of serious mental health problems, we build a solid foundation for children’s emotional well-being will support them for years to come.”

Gen Z, millennials want to learn about social and emotional issues in schools

Education should include social and emotional skills as much as academics, according to the majority of Gen Z and millennial respondents (63%), compared to a smaller majority of older generations (58%). Almost three-thirds of teachers (71%) agree.

This may be because the younger generations feel they have been changed by this education. Most Gen Z and millennial respondents (82%) agreed with the statement, “I wish I had been taught more about understanding and managing my emotions when I was a child,” compared to 65% of Gen X and Boomers. A larger number of parents (84%) said the same.

The data also suggests that today’s parents want to be more comfortable with their children’s mental health. More than half of parents (79%) and all respondents (67%) agreed, “I wish my parents were honest with me about their mental health problems.”

The survey measured several other factors, including how people view US adults and children, the importance of kindness in a healthy community, and the meaning of tolerance. Almost all respondents (90%) agreed, “Raising kindness in children has a positive effect, building a brave and caring society for future generations.”

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