Michigan remains in the bottom half of states for child well-being, according to the 2022 KIDS COUNT® Data Book, a 50-state report of recent household data developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation analyzing how children and families are faring. This year’s Data Book emphasizes that children in Michigan and across the country are in the midst of a mental health crisis, struggling with anxiety and depression at unprecedented levels. For the first time, this annual resource focuses on youth mental health, concurring with a recent assessment by the U.S. surgeon general that conditions amount to a mental health pandemic for youth.
The report sheds light on the health, economic and other challenges affecting American children as well as how those challenges are more likely to affect children of color.
“Just as the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare a lot of challenges and policy needs facing Michigan kids, the surgeon general’s naming of a youth ‘mental health pandemic’ should open people’s eyes to what our kids are going through right now,” said Kelsey Perdue, Kids Count in Michigan Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy. “The state has rightly recognized these increased mental health challenges and increased related investment accordingly, including in the 2023 state budget, but there’s still much more that needs to be done to tackle this anxiety and depression crisis.”
According to the report, 13.5% of Michigan children ages 3-17 struggled with anxiety or depression in 2020. This rate was higher than the national average and more than in 33 other states and the District of Columbia. That rate was 13.4% higher than in 2016, an increase that represents 22,000 more Michigan children who are struggling to make it through the day.
For the 2022 national Data Book, Michigan was ranked 32nd in the nation in overall child well-being. Michigan was ranked 29th in Economic Well-Being and Family and Community Context, and the state’s lowest national rank was again in Education at 40th in the country.
Michigan’s best national rank in the four categories was 27th in Health, and the state was the fourth-best in the country for children without health insurance. Michigan saw a 40% decline in the number of kids without health insurance from 2008-2012 to 2016-2020.