News 12's Rich Barrabi spoke with Dr. Liz Matheis, a licensed clinical psychologist and certified school psychologist, about keeping check on children’s mental health amid the pandemic.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one in five teenagers in the U.S. had at some point experienced an episode of major depression before the pandemic. Another CDC report found that emergency room visits related to children's mental health rose dramatically in 2020, compared with 2019, suggesting that things may have gotten worse due to COVID-19.

How do we make sure children are doing OK? Matheis says parents need to make sure their children feel comfortable talking to them about their feelings.

What are some of the signs to look out for that your children are struggling? Matheis says it's about noticing changes in your child's behaviors.

When should parents inform school officials that they think their child is struggling? Matheis says it's important to inform schools as soon as possible.

While the COVID-19 restrictions put into place have had a negative effect on some children, Matheis says the country did what was necessary to keep people safe. She says children will be able to recover through support systems.