Let’s Talk About the Youth Mental Health Crisis in America
The COVID-19 virus proved quickly that it would be more than a contagious illness with serious physical symptoms and even death: mandatory quarantines led to unprecedented social isolation, and school and work closures led to remote learning and working. Now, almost five years later, we are witnessing the aftermath of unprecedented social isolation and economic hardship exposing one area in particular: the youth mental health crisis.
Statistics and research
As the world experiences unprecedented collective trauma and help becomes increasingly less accessible, the gaps in the mental health care system become more and more apparent.In a 2021 national survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 49.5% of adolescents (ages 13-18) have or have had a mental disorder or illness–a sharp increase from the 15% recorded pre-pandemic in 2019. There are many factors contributing to the ever-evolving youth mental health crisis in our country (and many believe we have never had a working system for regulating mental health). The Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s advisory on youth mental health stated that “the pandemic era’s unfathomable number of deaths, pervasive sense of fear, economic instability, and forced physical distancing from loved ones, friends, and communities have exacerbated the unprecedented stresses young people already faced. In the four years since the unprecedented pandemic reached the United States, COVID-19 has resulted in 1,189,603 deaths and 6,929,940 hospitalizations and counting.”
The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults in the United States, offered insights into some of the challenges the younger generations face. “Young people are not only at a critical time in their development but also grappling with very real challenges different from previous generations, including constant digital connection (46% of teens ages 13–17 say they use the internet “almost constantly) and much less in-person connection (young people ages 15–24 are spending less than half as much time in person with friends as they were two decades ago) the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, school shootings, widely broadcast incidents of violence, and legislation aimed at decreasing protections for LGBTQIA+ youth. At the same time, mental health care is difficult to access, and lethal means, such as firearms, are too often easy to access.” The Jed Foundation states that 3 in 5 college students face some type of essential needs insecurity, including housing insecurity, food insecurity, or lack of access to affordable health care. Among youth with major depression, 60% do not receive any form of treatment due to cost. On top of youth not being able to afford treatment, we are also encountering a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals: Mental Health America reported that there are 340 people for every 1 mental health provider in the U.S.
According to “Why American Teens Are So Sad” by Derek Thompson, the United States is experiencing the highest level of teenage sadness ever recorded. Thompson noted “the number of American high-school students who say they feel “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26 percent to 44 percent from 2009 to 2021, citing a CDC study from 2022 among high school students across the United States. The suicide rate among people aged 10–24 increased 62% from 2007 through 2021, and 2022 had the highest number of deaths by suicide ever recorded in the US. Now the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults between the ages of 10 and 34, more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
Attend a training
In response, the CDC released six strategies to promote mental health literacy and wellbeing in schools: increase mental health literacy, promote mindfulness; promote social, emotional, and behaviorally learning; enhance connectedness; provide psychosocial skills training and cognitive behavioral interventions; and support staff well-being. Mental health education to learn what to do when encountering someone in a mental health crisis is critical. The Maya Gold Foundation’s co-founders, Elise Gold and Mathew Swerdloff, provide free Mental Health First Aid training throughout the Hudson Valley (for both teens and adults) to “enhance emotional awareness, build mutual support and caring among teens and adults, strengthen inner resilience, and teach mindfulness practice” in memory of their daughter, Maya Gold. While they are based in New Paltz, The Maya Gold Foundation offers training in all of Ulster County and certified to use the evidence based “Teen Mental Health First Aid” and “Youth Mental Health First Aid” curriculum developed by the National Council for Mental Well Being in order to reduce stigma and give both teens and adults the vocabulary to talk about mental health in a healthy and productive way. “We have been in schools, worked with nonprofits, teachers, and community organizers to give them the tools so they can support the young people they work with and have a way to help and recognize when a person is facing a mental health crisis” Swerdloff stated. Since they founded the organization in 2015, Swerdloff and Gold have trained hundreds of people in schools and communities across the region.Find more information about how to attend or schedule a training at their website www.mayagoldfoundation.org.
Practice healthy coping
Research suggests that increasing coping and emotional support skills can assist in increasing preventative measures when encountering a mental health crisis.The CDC detailed several healthy ways to cope with stress:
-Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media. It’s good to be informed but hearing about a traumatic event constantly can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to a couple of times a day and take breaks from phone, tv, and computer screens.
-Take care of yourself (and your body): eat healthy, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.
-Breathe, stretch, or meditate.
-Make time to unwind by doing activities you enjoy.
-Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling; a parent, friend, counselor, doctor, or pastor.
-Connect with your community or faith-based organizations
-Avoid drugs, alcohol and substance abuse. They can create additional problems and increase stress
-Recognize when you need help. If problems continue or you are thinking about suicide, ask for help from a loved one, talk to a psychologist, social worker, or professional counselor.
Talking about it
In addition to education, talking openly about mental health and illness to destigmatize the topic and learning what support is available in schools and communities can be invaluable. Local high school students that participated in the Youth Film Lab Short Film Screening at the Woodstock Film Festival are proving to be the leaders in creating a new conversation about mental health. They wrote, produced and presented short films after completing a 3 week film program that addressed some difficult issues such as the effects of grief, lack of legislation for lead poisoning, addiction and substance abuse, homelessness, depression and anxiety, and the various emotions and feelings that come along with them. Student filmmaker Lucy Fitzgerald-Van Loan created a film about the dangers of social media with a goal “to show the effects of social media on teens, particularly artists. It can have a negative effect on health and wellbeing, and often goes unaddressed.” The event ended with a call to action to support a bill that l would accept Art Therapy with a Medicaid plan, pointing out that art has the ability to help kids and adults express feelings that they do not always have the language for. Assistant Professor at SUNY New Paltz Megan Sperry, who directs the free film program, discussed the importance of telling your own story in mitigating and rediscovering trauma and mental health.
Hudson Valley Mental Health Resources
Access Supports for Living walk-in mental health and addiction care for adults & children in the Hudson Valley fills a very needed gap of a mental health ”urgent care. Located in Kingston, Newburgh, and Middletown Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, and virtually 24/7, patients will see a therapist, psychiatrist, nurse, and peer behavioral specialist during their first visit and create a mental health plan. here is no appointment, referral or insurance required. Another free resource we have in the Hudson Valley are People USA Rose Houses: 24/7 short-term crisis residences that are home-like alternatives to hospital psychiatric ERs and inpatient units. They are 100% operated by peers who have lived their own personal experiences and now advocate for others. Located in Hyde Park, Walden, and Garrison patients can come and go voluntarily. A Crisis Stabilization Center, a 24/7 community crisis response hub where people of all ages can connect immediately with an integrated team of counselors, peer specialists, and behavioral health professionals is currently available in Poughkeepsie and is planning to open in Kingston next year.
Hotlines
The Ulster County Mobile Mental Health Team
-Free and countywide service provided by Access: Supports for Living, everyday from 10am-10 pm. Call (844) 277-4820.
The Family of Woodstock
–Confidential 24/7 hotline that can be called or texted at 845-679-2485, and have walk-in centers in Woodstock, New Paltz, Ellenville, and Kingston.
Dutchess County Helpline:
-Helpline available 24/7, call or text (845) 485-9700. walk-in stabilization center at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie.
National Resources
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:
-National, free and confidential 24-7 support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
-Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
-Offers confidential, 24-7, 365 day-a-year treatment referral and information service.
NAMI HelpLine
-Call or text a NAMI HelpLine specialist, 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) weekdays from 10am-10pm.
Join the family! 
