Mental health is important, and young people are no exception to our ongoing need for better mental health resources and support. According to the World Health Organisation, one in seven 10 to 19-year-olds across the globe experiences a mental disorder. Mental health professionals and students studying postgraduate psychology courses all the way from Australia to the US would understand the importance of focusing on youth mental health. This topic is essential to learn and remain informed about. For various reasons, young people’s mental health can be fragile, and we must preserve it and do our best to support young people as they age and grow.
In a recent study by Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, New York was ranked fifth across the US for its youth mental health support services. The state is clearly doing something right to support young people.
The Youth Mental Health Crisis
Mental health issues among children and adolescents are a key issue that deserves worldwide attention and action from governments, parents and the community. Despite the prevalence of mental health issues in young people, and the fact that depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are the leading causes of illness and disability in this age group, many young people still do not receive treatment for their mental health conditions. In an alarming statistic, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 19 years old.
Unfortunately, the widespread prevalence of mental health issues in young people was seriously exacerbated by the global CoViD-19 pandemic. During and since this time, anxiety and depression among children and teens have risen sharply by more than double since prior to the pandemic, with depression rates rising to 23% and anxiety rates rising to 19%.
What is causing this crisis? This is a great question, and there isn’t just one answer — various factors are at play. Different environmental, biological and psychological causes are all relevant. Adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse, exposure to family violence, having a parent with a mental illness, bullying, poverty, and other experiences, can all increase the risk of developing mental health issues.
Factors to Consider
Limited access to mental health services, the social stigma that surrounds mental health, underfunding for services and limited societal awareness of mental health issues in young people all play a part.
Another key issue is the unhelpful influence of social media platforms on teen mental health. With up to 95% of teenagers using at least one social media platform, the impact of these platforms on their wellbeing is a serious concern. Body image issues, bullying and other negative impacts can all arise from social media use in young people.
New York’s Innovative Approach
The city of New York is taking direct action to address this crisis and to support its young people to deal with mental health issues. In 2023, a survey found that half of teenage respondents reported mild to severe depression symptoms. To address this, the city launched a mental health agenda called Care, Community, Action. The mental health plan is comprised of three focus groups: children, youth, and families, people with serious mental illnesses, and people at risk of drug overdose.
To deliver results, this action plan does not treat New York’s young people as an island and instead views them as part of the wider community.
The first step the city undertook was to survey the issues young New Yorkers face, such as their problems, their coping strategies and the media they access. This survey was granular and targeted and intended to work with young people with interventions they would benefit from and actually use.
The city also launched various programs to support its young people experiencing mental health issues. They launched NYC Teenspace, a free telehealth mental health service made available to all NYC teens aged 13 to 17, which is nearly 450,000 people. This online therapy program allows teens to connect with a registered therapist via phone, text, or video on any mobile device and is free of charge.
What Can We Learn from New York?
There is much we can learn from New York City’s approach to youth mental health. Below are just a few key takeaways.
Giving Them Space
Part of a proactive and positive approach is giving teenagers space to be vulnerable and assisting them when they ask for help. Despite maturing bodies and brains, teenagers are still in a critical development stage where mental health issues and substance use can have a profound impact on their growth, development and wellbeing. Allowing them to be vulnerable and to seek support is critical to addressing the youth mental health crisis.
Engaging With Issues that Impact Them the Most
NYC engaged with teenagers on the issues that impact them the most, such as relationships, family issues, substance use and more. The city engaged with young people on topics that influence youth mental health, such as social media. It used that insight to inform treatment and next steps. By actively listening to young people and putting their experience front and center in their initiatives, the city has achieved success and positive outcomes for its young people.
Health Promotion Works
Promoting the mental health of youth to the wider community was one of the key pillars of the Care, Community, Action plan. By actively promoting positive mental health outcomes through talking about mental health and working to remove the stigma, focusing on key messaging and outreach, providing training, collecting data and connecting people to appropriate services, the state has been better able to support its young people. These various methods of community health promotion have worked together for better health outcomes for youth. Health promotion is a valuable tool for communities, governments, and other institutions looking to make improvements in any area of health.
Be Weary of Social Media
Many people have an awareness or suspicion of the dangers of social media, but the work in New York has only strengthened the knowledge that platforms and screen time should be treated with care. Young people surveyed were honest about their social media usage, and the government made it a priority to address in its plan. Making sure online spaces are safe for everyone, not just young people, is a crucial lesson for creating change in the mental health space.
There is no denying that mental health is a concern for our younger generations. While the whole world still has a long way to go when it comes to supporting youth mental help, there are steps that can be taken now, and New York is just one city playing its part to do better.
