The pandemic is taking its toll on kids in more ways than one. Doctors are calling mental health in our children a second pandemic. Sister station KOAT spoke to a pediatrician about the strain COVID-19 has put on our children.

Dr. Alex Cvijanovich is the president of the New Mexico Pediatric Society. She said mental health has been declared an emergency.

After months of home lockdown and isolation protocols because of COVID-19. Cvijanovich said our children face a mental health crisis, and it's something parents should take very seriously.

"I think it was here before COVID-19, but it has really exploded during the COVID pandemic. Take your child's concerns seriously and trust your instincts," she said.

So how can you tell if your child is struggling with mental health? Cvijanovich said the first signs are changes in eating habits, your child isolating themselves more than usual, sleeping through the days or not enjoying activities they usually love.

Cvijanovich said she sees these symptoms every day, and if you see them in your child, it's essential to act fast. If you can catch it early, you'll minimize the impact.

"Try to talk to your child if your child is willing. If the child or teenager has had a counselor or a therapist, a psychologist before, get back in touch," Cvijanovich said. "We need to be extremely careful. We are seeing much higher rates of attempted suicides and suicides. Parents, Grandparents, and caregivers know the kids in their house the best. And if they are concerned about their child's mental health, act on it."

The doctor adds that putting the suicide hotline number somewhere in your house or in your child's phone is the best way to keep them safe when you're not around. That number is 1-800-273-8255.

Watch the video above for the full story.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is clarifying their stance on reopening schools this fall, pushing for science-based decisions and calling on Congress to provide necessary federal funding for campuses to reopen safely.

The AAP, joining together with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA) and AASA, The School Superintendents Association, said they share the desire to welcome children back to schools this fall, however safety concerns must be considered.

“Returning to school is important for the healthy development and well-being of children, but we must pursue re-opening in a way that is safe for all students, teachers and staff. Science should drive decision-making on safely reopening schools. Public health agencies must make recommendations based on evidence, not politics,” the statement reads.

They go on to say a one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate, given the nature of the pandemic across the country.

The AAP released guidance last month discussing the physical, emotional and mental benefits of returning to in-person classes and offered suggestions for how districts could make safety plans. Including wearing masks, bringing lunch from home, keeping kids socially distant in classrooms and limiting classroom-to-classroom movement. Their guidance was based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The guidance kicked off a discussion on the national level about whether students should return to schools or continue virtual learning this fall.

Wednesday, President Trump said he strongly believes schools should re-open to in-person learning. The president also said he thought the guidance from the CDC was too high of a barrier to schools re-opening. The CDC announced Thursday they would not be changing their guidelines at this time.