Youth Mental Health

“We need to leave room for the hard. While it’s definitely good to stay optimistic, I think we can get into trouble when we force the happy.” -Tali Rosen, Call to Mind Live: Preventing Teen Suicide in a Pandemic of Isolation

It’s fair to say – the youth experience has changed.

It’s been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic threw young people into a “survival mode” and left them to navigate remote school, isolation and manage ongoing worries about the future and missed opportunities. It’s also been a year since a racial reckoning was ignited after George Floyd’s murder and many young people were challenged to examine their own racial experience, identity and question commitments to fundamental civil rights. If that wasn’t enough – there has been an ongoing news cycle of a deep political divide, economic hardship and illuminated inequality.

It’s definitely fair to say – the youth experience has changed.

A CDC survey found the number of people reporting recent onset of anxiety or depression rose significantly in the last year, with the largest increases seen among young adults.

But even before the pandemic, before a racial uprise, before the stress of the news cycles – young people were struggling with their mental health.

One out of five youth ages 13-18 experience a mental health disorder each year with frequency rates increasing. And over the last decade, even before coronavirus – anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts have been on the rise among young people.

With 50% of mental illnesses first emerging by age 14 and 75% by age 24 – it’s a great time to talk with youth about their well-being. Mental Health America reports early identification, diagnosis and treatment can prevent mental health problems from getting considerably worse. Plus, why not help youth feel better right now?

Call to Mind is providing young people with a platform to discuss their mental health. We’re teaming up with public radio stations nationwide to produce virtual events and radio broadcasts that are addressing the most important and timely conversations about the well-being of young people. Much of this work is done in public media partnership with PBS station WETA, for its Well Beings Youth Mental Health Project to shed light on youth mental health.

In these final days of Mental Health Awareness Month, join us for our next free, live virtual program with KPCC in Los Angeles:

Call to Mind Live: Impacts of Homeless on Youth Mental Health
Thursday, May 27 at 5 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. CT