Adolescents face many mental health challenges. These can lead to depression and anxiety, substance abuse, violence or suicide.
Some youth are at greater risk of these conditions because of their living circumstances, including racial and ethnic minorities, those in rural areas or LGBTQ+ communities. These youth need special attention.
Prevention
Taking advantage of the opportunities available to prevent mental health problems is a crucial part of ensuring that young people have the tools they need to thrive. Educators can teach young people how to recognize warning signs of distress, and help them build resilience by providing positive and safe environments that support emotional well-being.
The same prevention strategies that promote mental health—such as helping youth feel connected to school and family—also help prevent other negative experiences like drug use, violence, unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This is particularly important for adolescents, who are at higher risk for many of these issues due to their development stage and unique circumstances.
The NGA’s 2022-2023 Chair’s Initiative on Strengthening Youth Mental Health brought together Governors and stakeholders at four convenings to identify best practices and solutions. The result is A Governor’s Playbook, which provides concrete ways that states can further their work to improve mental health for all young people.
Treatment
In addition to traditional mental health treatments like therapy and medication, new holistic techniques and innovative therapeutic tools can help young individuals manage their symptoms. Many of these holistic options are rooted in mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy, and they often utilize creative expressions as ways to explore and communicate emotions.
A growing number of youth are struggling to navigate complex social, emotional and economic challenges. They have lived through a frightening global pandemic and have been pushed to the margins by inequitable political and social policies. And they are the first generation to grow up with the constant hum of social media and mobile technology.
Despite these overwhelming stressors, many youth are not getting the help they need. Across the country, youth are struggling to access mental health services and are experiencing worsening mental health conditions, which are exacerbating their existing problems. Educating and improving community awareness of mental health needs is essential to addressing these concerns.
Supporting Families
Provide families with comprehensive, evidence-based resources and support. Prioritize programs that address the mental health needs of vulnerable populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ youth, foster youth, and youth in the juvenile justice system.
Encourage parents, teachers, and other adult family members to be aware of warning signs for depression and other mental health problems in children and adolescents. Help them understand the social and emotional development of children and teens, create healthy environments at home and at school, and advocate for their child to get help if needed.
Teach young people and their families to care for their own mental health by developing strong relationships with peers and supportive adults, practicing self-care, being attentive of their use of technology and social media, and knowing that it is OK to ask for help. Invest in peer advocacy programs that train and credential youth and family peers who can serve as mentors.
Community Collaboration
The centrality of collaboration is linked to participants’ perception of youth mental health as a complex issue that demands multiple perspectives and interdisciplinary involvement. It also reflects their belief that collaboration can be an effective strategy for addressing a range of problems and threats, including limited resources and service access.
Interviews with professionals indicate that collaboration takes on various forms, from meetings between service providers to collaborative projects with young people and their families. It is often a form of boundary spanning, a way to bridge gaps between organizations that have different knowledge and responsibilities or between services with overlapping client groups.
Despite increased awareness of the importance of mental health, stigma remains a significant barrier to seeking help. States can address this challenge by building support for youth to recognize and seek care, as well as by increasing training for educators and caregivers to improve their ability to identify and respond to youth mental health challenges.