Youth Mental Health Crisis: What No One Is Telling You
Uncover eye-opening insights into the youth mental health crisis, combining compelling data with personal stories to reveal systemic challenges and actionable strategies for driving meaningful change.
Youth Mental Health Crisis: What No One Is Telling You
Date: July 29
Author: Brittany Oneill
Contributor: Fionn Hyland, Mental Health Partnerships Advocacy Intern
… It’s Our Responsibility
By Fionn Hyland, Mental Health Partnerships Advocacy Intern
Young people are our future. And it is our responsibility to ensure they have the right tools and resources to keep that future bright.
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists, 66,000 children in Philadelphia are potentially at risk for mental health disorders, yet there are only 60 qualified psychiatrists available to treat them.
In Pennsylvania, we rank 13th in the nation for a lower prevalence of mental illness and higher rates of access to care according to Mental Health America. However, these numbers hide significant challenges:
- 20% of youth (ages 12–17) experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year — that’s 193,000 individuals.
- 53.7% of those youth received no mental health services at all.
- Of those who did receive help, 64.5% said the counseling or treatment helped.
- 13.46% of youth reported having serious thoughts of suicide — impacting 127,000 young people.
- 8.55% of youth experienced a substance use disorder in the last year — approximately 80,000 youth.
- 8.2% (or 40,000 youth) with private insurance had plans that didn’t cover mental or emotional health.
Even with a relatively good ranking, these stats show Pennsylvania’s youth are struggling. We must continue advocating for better mental health access so all young people receive the care they need.
Fulfilling that responsibility begins by educating ourselves, staying updated on policy, and supporting elected officials who take action to address the mental health of our youth.
My Must-Have Mental Health Policy Resources
- Tool 1:
Set up Google Alerts for mental health topics that matter to you. Stay informed on national and local trends. - Tool 2:
Use University or Community Libraries. Librarians are fantastic resources for research support. - Tool 3:
Explore organizations like Mental Health America and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing for up-to-date data and trends. - Tool 4:
Refer to federal/state agencies like SAMHSA for research-backed mental health resources. - Tool 5:
Be cautious with social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube). Always verify the information through credible sources.
Secret Tool: Follow your elected officials’ press releases and legislation updates for immediate action being taken on mental health issues.
Legislation in Action
- Pennsylvania – HB 2311: Proposed by State Rep. Mike Schlossberg, this bill supports mental health screening in grades 6–12. Schools can hire qualified staff or partner with external vendors. Screenings are optional and aim to catch mental health struggles early.
Read the bill - New Jersey – A2328: Assemblyman Raj Mukherji’s bill allows teens 13+ to access mental health services without parental consent—especially critical in cases of sexual health or assault. The aim is to increase access and reduce mental health crises.
Read the bill - New York – A8148: Governor Hochul’s legislation restricts addictive features on social media that harm youth. The intent is to limit time online and reduce associated negative mental health effects.
Read more
Our responsibility is to ensure teens and adolescents have the tools and support they need to cope with daily stressors. The best way to do that is by:
- Educating ourselves
- Finding reliable, fact-checked information
- Supporting policies and elected officials that advocate for youth mental health
Stay educated, verify information, and support effective legislation to combat the youth mental health crisis.
About Fionn: Fionn is a first-generation American studying psychology at Temple University. They are passionate about mental health equity and are especially focused on empowering schools to better support students' emotional well-being.
Related Reading from Our Advocacy Corner
Stay informed and inspired by exploring more stories from our Advocacy Corner. From uplifting community visits to powerful policy insights and personal recovery journeys, these articles spotlight the people and progress shaping mental health advocacy today.
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So these experiences already live within your walls."
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"...and just that little click. Wow, it's so powerful just to have somebody who understands exactly how you feel, because we can sympathize all day, but to have somebody else in the room with me, to say, I've done it too, I've experienced that too, allows for a bond that goes beyond words."
"That opened me up to talk to other people so I could coach them and have them get the aha moment again. I did it and I'm glad that I got into new ways of thinking."
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