BEYOND THE HEADLINES
An Executive Summary of Trends and Opportunities in Youth Mental Health in the U.S.
May2025
Introduction
Background and Purpose
NewProfit,anonprofitventurephilanthropyorganization,backsbreakthroughsocialentrepreneursexpandingaccessandopportunity intheU.S.YouthmentalhealthisacriticalcomponentofourstrategyacrossEducation,EconomicMobility,andDemocracy.Forour EducationStrategy,wethinkaboutyouthmentalhealthasadvancingthewellbeingofstudents,educators,andfamilies.Ouryouth mentalhealthworktodatehassupportedearly-stageorganizationsinexpandingaccesstoculturallyresponsivementalhealthcare, particularlyforthosefurthestfromaccess.ThroughourCatalyzesupportmodel,wehaveinvested$1.6millionin16early-stagemental healthnonprofitsandarepreparingtoprovidethenextcohortofeightorganizationswith$880K.Inadditiontofunding,weprovide peerlearningcommunities,coaching,andstrategicadvisorysupporttohelporganizationsnavigatebarrierstogrowthandscaletheir impact.Beyonddirectinvestment,wefocusonstrengtheningthebroaderfieldbyconveningnewandinterestedmentalhealthfunders andleaders,joiningdiscussions,fosteringcollaboration,andshapingphilanthropicinvestmentstrategiesthatdrivemeaningful, community-centeredimpact.Aswelookahead,weaimtoexpandourinvestmentstrategytoincludeorganizationsreadytoscaleand deepentheirimpact,ensuringyouthmentalhealthsolutionsaresustainableandwidelyaccessible.
● PurposeoftheLandscapeAnalysis:Thisanalysisaimstoilluminatetheyouthmentalhealthfield,providingcriticalinsightsto empowerfunders,policymakers,andmentalhealthleaderstomakeinformeddecisions.
● BuildingonourWork:Overthepastfewyears,NewProfithashadtheprivilegeoflearningfromremarkablesocialentrepreneurs andmentalhealthleaders.Aswelooktodeepenourimpact,thisanalysis,conductedinpartnershipwiththehuman-centered designfirm,PeopleRocket,buildsonworkcompletedbyourpeerswithafocusonaccesstoensurewenavigatetheyouthmental healthspaceresponsiblyandwithintention.
● MentalHealthasaFoundation:MentalhealthisintegraltoachievingsuccessinNewProfit’sstrategicfocusareas:Education, Democracy,andEconomicMobility.Addressingmentalhealthchallengesstrengthensindividualandcollectiveoutcomesacross thesedomains.
AspecialthankstotheCarnegieCorporationofNewYorkforfundingthiswork.
Understanding the Youth Mental Health Landscape
EmergingfromtheCOVID-19pandemic,youthmentalhealthhascomeintothespotlight.Evenbeforetheisolationofthe pandemic,theformerU.S.SurgeonGeneral,Dr.VivekMurthy,warnedofa“lonelinessepidemic”contributingtoadecline Americans’mentalhealth.Indeed,youthmentalhealthhasbeenonthedeclinefordecades.Duringthepandemic,youthmental healthchallenges,includingdepressionandsuicidality,intensifiedandcontributedtoagrowingconsensusthatinvestmentis neededatalllevels,fromfamiliesandcommunitiestopublicandprivatesectorinstitutionsandpolicies,tosupporttoday’s youth.Philanthropicorganizations,inparticular,haveauniqueopportunitytocatalyzechangebyinvestingininnovative, community-driven,andproximatesolutionsthataddresssystemicbarrierstocare,reducestigma,andfosterresiliencein youngpeople.
Inordertomakeprogress,itisimperativethatwehaveanuancedunderstandingofthediverserangeofchallengesfacedby youthtodayandtheopportunitiesforinterventionandimpact.NewProfitundertookanovellandscapeanalysisofyouthmental healthintheUnitedStates,whichisfocusedonunderstandingboththestateofyouthmentalhealthtodayandthelandscapeof nonprofitsandtheirfundersacrossthecountrythatarefocusedonaddressingyouthmentalhealthaspartoftheirmissionor coreactivities.
Itisourhopethatthisworkcanhelptomovethefieldforwardbyaddingnuancetotheheadlinesaroundyouthmental health,makingvisiblethegapsininvestmentandaccesstocriticalservicesandsupports,andshiningalightonthegood workthatisalreadybeingdonetosupportyouthmentalhealthincommunitiesacrosstheUnitedStates.
Methodology
Thisanalysisincorporatesdatafromindustryandacademicpublications,expertinterviews,andanovel analysisofyouthmentalhealthnonprofitorganizationsintheUnitedStatesusingIRSForm990data.
300+LandscapeDocuments
Areviewofacademicarticlesand industryreportswasconductedto betterunderstandtheyouthmental healthlandscape,ensuringbothdepth andbreadth.Findingsfromthisreview informedthedesignofinterview protocolsandthedevelopmentof searchcriteriaforidentifyingrelevant organizations.
Thereviewfocusedonidentifyingkey trends,gaps,challenges,and opportunitieswithinthefield,providing afoundationforaseriesof semi-structuredinterviewsto investigatetheseareasfurther.
Over20StakeholderInterviews
Semi-structuredinterviewswith knowledgeablestakeholderswere conductedtodeepenunderstandingof theyouthmentalhealthfieldandto investigateasetofworkinghypotheses aboutthefield’skeydynamicsand opportunities.Theseconversations providedcontextandinsights, groundingtheanalysisinlived experiencesandexpertperspectives.
Quotesincludedinthisdocumentare drawndirectlyfromtheseinterviewsbut havebeenanonymizedtoensure confidentialityandencouragecandid input.
Almost7,000Organizations
Termsandphrasesidentifiedthrough thereviewoflandscapedocumentsand interviewswereusedtoguidethe analysisofpubliclyavailableIRSdata.
Theseinsightsinformedthesearch criteria,enablingtheidentificationof nonprofityouthmentalhealth organizationsandtheirfunders.
Essential Framing
An Ecological Model of Youth Mental Health
Whilementalhealthisoftenconfinedtoitsownfieldwithinthehealthsector, youthmentalhealthimpactsandisimpactedbytheentireecosystem surroundingayoungperson,including:
● theirindividualbiology,identity,anddevelopmentalstage
● theirclosestrelationships(includingparents’mentalhealth)
● thecommunitiesandinstitutionswithwhichtheyinteract(e.g.,schools, youthprograms,religiousinstitutions,socialservices,employment)
● thepolicyenvironment(e.g.,insuranceandeconomicpolicies,localstate, city,andschoolboardpolicies)
● thelargermacro-trendsinoursocietythatimpactournorms,values,and societalculture (e.g.,technologicaladvances,incomeinequality,racialand genderinequality,politicalpolarization,climatechange).
Asystemicapproachtoaddressingyouthmentalhealthwouldinclude attentiontotheinfluencesoftheentireecosystemonthewellbeingofyouth.
Relationships Are at the Core
● Healthyyouthdevelopmentandmentalwellbeingrequiresasenseof purpose,connection,agency,motivation,andself-efficacy.According torecentresearchfromHarvard’sMakingCaringCommon,youth(and particularlyyoungadultswhoarestrugglingatevenhigherratesthan teens)reportalackofmeaningorpurpose,financialworries,and achievementpressureasthemaincontributorstotheirmentalhealth challenges.Youthalsoreporthigherlevelsoflonelinessthananyother agegroup.
● Relationshipsmediatetheinfluencesofayoungperson’secology.Close developmentalrelationshipshelpyouthtobuffersourcesofstressand buildresilience,makesenseoftheirworld,developagency,connectto resources,andfeelthattheymatter.
● Therefore,aguidingquestionforallstakeholdersinthisworkmustbe:
○ Inwhatwaysdoesthis[practice/program/policy/environment] encourage,enrich,andempowerthedevelopmentalrelationships aroundyouth?(SimpleInteractions)
○ Alternatively,arethereobstaclesthatarediscouraging,diminishing, ordisempoweringrelationshipsforyouththatneedtobeaddressed orremoved?
“Whatarethetwothingsthataregoing tobemostcoretoteenagersandyoung adultsmentalhealth?Ithinktheanswer [to]thatquestion…wouldbehaving meaningful,gratifyingrelationshipswith peopleandfeelingsomemeaningand purposeinyourlife.AndIdon'tmean havingasinglepurposeoracalling.Ijust meanhavingthingsyouvaluethatyou canpursue...thingsyoucareabout,that youcanpursue.”
-Interviewee
Leveraging the Ecological Model
Takinganecologicalperspectiveallowsustoseenuance,complexity,context,andinterdependence, whichinformsasystemicapproachtoimpact.
● Contextmatterswhentryingtounderstandthecausesofmentalhealth challengesanddesignsolutions.Ratherthansolvingageneric“youth mentalhealthcrisis,”weneedtobeaskingthequestion“what[specific mentalhealthchallenge]areweaddressingandforwhom”?
● Race,class,andcultureimpacthowyoungpeopleexperiencetheir ecosystemandtheresourcesandopportunitiesavailabletothematall levels.
● Mentalhealthalsoimpactsmorethanjustindividualwellbeing-youth mentalhealthimpactsandisimpactedbyaccesstohighquality education,afunctioningdemocracy,economicmobility,andmore. Thereisalmostnosectorthatdoesnothavearoletoplayandastakein thegamewhenitcomestoyouthmentalhealth.
● Forfundersandpractitioners,it’saboutseeingthesystemasawhole, andourpartwithinit.It’saboutconnectingthedotstocreateentire systemsofsupportaroundyouth.
Howmightwebuildcoalitionsacrossallecologicalsystemsandsectors withimprovingyouthmentalhealthasthecommongoal?
Findings
COVID Shone a Light on What Was an Ongoing Decline in Youth Mental Health
Thepandemicexacerbatedexistingmentalhealthchallenges amongmany-butnotall-U.S.youth,amplifyingthedemandfor servicesandbringingattentiontothegapsinthecurrentsystem. Thereisno“singlestory”ofhowthepandemicimpacted youthmentalhealth—somestudiesshowincreasingratesof anxiety,depression,eatingdisorders,andsuicidalityamong certainsubgroups,includinggirlsandyouthofcolor(e.g.,Bridge etal.,2023;Pritchettetal.,2024;Yard,2021),whileothers indicatelittle-to-nochangeandareturntopre-pandemiclevels (e.g.,Brunetteetal.,2023;CDC,2024).However,regardlessof thepandemic’seffects,datashowsadeclineinyouthmental healthovertime.Forsome,schoolclosuresremovedstressors suchasbullying,peersocialpressure,andacademic achievementdemands(Penneretal.,2021),whilethosewho maintainedclosesocialconnectionsvirtuallyreportedbetter mentalhealthoutcomes(Jonesetal.,2022).Atthesametime, thepandemicmayhavebroughtgreaterpublicattentionto youthmentalhealth,amplifyingconversationsthatwere previouslyoverlookedordeprioritized.
Datasource:CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.YouthRiskBehaviorSurveyData Summary&TrendsReport:2013–2023.U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices, 2024.
The Landscape Before and After COVID
COVIDshonealightonafailingyouthmentalhealthsystemandledtoasurgeinneworganizations,funding,andprioritization. Thetablebelowprovidesaviewofthenumberofnonprofitorganizationsinouranalysisfocusedonyouthmentalhealthand theirfundingflowsbeforethepandemic(2019)andasof2022.Despitegrowth,systemicinadequaciespersist.
BeforethePandemic(2019)
Asof2022
NumberofNonprofitOrganizations ~5,000 ~7,000 ContributionsfromPrivate Foundations
~$500M %ofGivingfromPrivate Foundations
Jumptothefollowingsectiontoseehowthesefigureswerecalculated:YouthMentalHealthOrganizationsandPhilanthropicFunding
Lack of Access andUnequal Access to Youth Mental Health Care
Inequalityinaccesstomentalhealthcareisanenormouschallenge.Therearebothnotenoughprovidersandnumerous barrierstoseekingoutandaccessingcare.
● In2023,almost60%ofyouthwithdepressiondidnotreceiveanymentalhealthtreatment(MentalHealthAmerica,2024).
● AsofDecember2023,morethanhalfoftheUSpopulationliveswithinaMentalHealthProfessionalShortageArea(defined asapopulationtoproviderratioof30,000ormoreto1),withruralareasparticularlyaffected.Itispredictedthatthese shortageswillcontinueorgetworseoverthenext10+years(NationalCenterforHealthWorkforceAnalysis,2023).
● Disparitiesareevidentinbothaccesstoservicesandqualityofcare,withhistoricallyunderservedcommunities,particularly youthofcolorandruralyouth,facingmorebarriers.Thisiscompoundedbyalackofculturallycompetentcareandadearth ofdiversepractitioners.
○ Youthofcolorreportthatpractitionerculturalunderstandingismostimportanttothemintheirwillingnesstoengage inmentalhealthcare(Chuetal.,2022).
Itiscriticaltobothremoveaccessbarriersandbuildadiverse,culturallyresponsivementalhealthcareworkforce.
Scale and Extent of Professional Shortages
MorethanhalfoftheU.S.populationlivesinamentalhealthprofessionalshortagearea.Whilethereisalsoa primarycareprofessionalshortage,thementalhealthprofessionalshortagesaremoreextreme.
Mental Health Workforce Demographics
TheUSPsychologyworkforceis79%whiteand72%female.Formanyyouth,thismeanslackofaccesstoaproviderwitha sharedbackgroundoridentity.
Datasource:AmericanPsychologicalAssociation.DataTool: DemographicsoftheU.S.PsychologyWorkforce,2023.
It’s not just about one tool or model. We need a whole system of supports that can adapt and connect, from peer support to tech innovations to school-based care.”
INTERVIEWEE
There is a Need and Opportunity for Designing a Range of Care Models
Partofremovingbarriersisunderstandingthat,whenitcomestoyouthmentalhealthcare,thereisnoone-sizefitsall.Weneed arangeofresponsiveapproachestotreatmentandcarethataretailoredtoyoungpeople’sneedsanddevelopmentalstage(as opposedtosimplymimickingadultmodels).
● Collaborativeandintegratedcaremodelshavebeenshowntoincreaseaccesstocareandimproveadolescentdepressive symptoms.Similarly,studiesshowthatfamilytherapymodelsareeffectiveintreatingyouthmentalhealthandbehavioral disorders.Thatsaid,theresearchdoesnotpointtotheseformsofcarebeingbetteroverall-itwilldependonthecontext (Asarnowetal.,2005;Hopkinsetal.,2017;Jiménezetal.,2019;Richardsonetal.,2014;Wrightetal.,2016).
○ Oneintervieweeshared,“Ithink,aswithallofmentalhealth,muchof[thetreatmentapproach]dependsonthe individualwhoisstruggling.Somedobetterwithindividualfocus.Othersdobetteringroups.”
● Benefitsofcollectivecareincludethatithelpsbuildsocialsupportnetworksandcanprovidescalablecare.However, concernshavebeenraisedaboutthecomplexityofrelationshipswithinthesegroups,particularlyforyouthwhose multifacetedidentitiesandexperiencesmaynotbefullyacknowledgedandacceptedamongstgroupmembers.While somepapersemphasizethebenefits,otherscautionagainstover-relianceontheseapproaches,pointingouttheneedfor personalizedcareandculturalsensitivitytoavoidalienatingindividualswithinthegroup.
● Addressingtherootcausesofyouthmentalill-health(e.g.,poverty,isolation,housinginsecurity,trauma,toxicstress)froma multigenerationalperspectiveisalsocritical(McGorryetal.,2024).
It does not have to be therapy to be therapeutic.”
INTERVIEWEE
Mental Health Care Can Extend beyond Traditional Therapy
Community-basedinterventions,peersupport,arts,anddigitaltoolscanallprovidetherapeuticbenefits,presentingabroader, moreaccessibleapproachtomentalhealth.Thisideashiftsperspectivesfromamedicalizedviewofmentalhealthtoamodel whereeverydayactivitiesandcommunityconnectionsalsoplayvitalroles.
● Non-traditionalapproachescanbemoreaccessibleandrelatable,particularlyforyouthwhomightnotengagewith traditionaltherapy.
● Buildingsupportive,youth-centeredenvironmentsincludestheexpansionofdigitalhealthtoolsandcommunity-based servicesthatprovideaccessiblementalandbehavioralhealthsupportandopportunitiesforhealthyconnectionand engagementoutsidetraditionalclinicalsettings.
● Interventionsthathelpyouthtoformstrong,supportiverelationships,findmeaningorasenseofpurpose,manageor mitigatestressorsintheirenvironments,andfeelcompetentandagentivecanallbeseenasaddressingrootcausesof youthmentalhealth.
○ Oneexpertshared,“Howdoyouhelpkidsdevelopmeaningfulrelationships?Howdoyouhelpthemdothingsthatare meaningful?I'mverybigonservicethesedaysandcollectiveservice,workingtogether.BecauseIthinkithelpswith loneliness;helpswithmeaningandpurpose;ithelpswithanxietyanddepressionforyoungadults.”
So
I think what we need to look at is not banning kids from social media or the digital ecosystem, but empowering them with the knowledge of how to use this power tool and to recognize it as a power tool, not as a toy, not as a playground, but as a tool that can do great good or great harm.”
INTERVIEWEE
The Technology Paradox
Socialmedia,screentime,anddigitalplatformscancontributetoanxietyanddepression,buttheyalso offeravenuesforsupport,connection,andinnovativetherapeuticinterventions.
● Researchandinterviewsemphasizedtheneedforabalancedapproach,ensuringthatdigitalplatformsareusedeffectively andsafelytosupportyouthmentalhealth(Weinstein&James,2022).Technologyhasthepotentialtobeusefulfor: expansionofaccesstoservicesviatelehealth;coordinatingcare;offeringadditionalsupports;andprovidingdigitalpeer supportandcommunity.
● Socialmediacanexacerbatementalhealthissueslikedepression,anxiety,andlowself-esteem,particularlythrough cyberbullying,negativesocialcomparison,andexcessivescreentime.Thenegativeimpactisespeciallypronouncedfor girls(Achterbergetal.,2022;Boersetal.,2019;Brunetteetal.,2023;Odgers&Jensen,2020;OSG,2021;Orben& Blakemore,2023;Twenge&Farley,2021;Twengeetal.,2022;Usborne&Taylor,2010).
● But,asourintervieweesshared,nuanceisnecessary."There'smixedfindings...somestudiesshowpositiveimpacts, especiallyforyouthfrommarginalizedbackgrounds...[who]getasenseofbelongingfromsomeonlinespaces."For LGBTQ+youth,“it’salifeline.”
Singularnarrativesthatpointtotechnologyasthesolecauseofyouthmentalhealthproblemsleadtooverlysimplisticand single-mindedsolutions(e.g.,simplybanningorrestrictingyouth’saccesstotechnology),ratherthantakinganuanced approachthatidentifiesrootcauses,teacheshealthytechhabits,andleveragesthepotentialbenefitsoftechnologyin serviceofthosewhoneeditmost.
I think something that's really important is to consider the factors that are driving youth to go on their phones and breed that disconnection. And maybe [it’s] not as much that the phones are the root cause of that disconnection. I think that, in so many situations, youth are turning to their phones because there's not space to [connect] otherwise.”
YOUTHINTERVIEWEEANDTEENMENTALHEALTHRESEARCHER
Youth Mental Health Organizations and Philanthropic Funding
Youth Mental Health Organizations
Theheatmapprovidedbelowillustratestherelationshipbetweenpopulationandnumberofyouthmentalhealthorganizationsat thecountylevel.Evenwhenaccountingforpopulationdisparities,muchoftheUnitedStateshaslimitedaccesstotheyouth mentalhealthecosystem.Thisrepresentsakeyopportunityforsocialentrepreneursandphilanthropicleaderstosupportthese areas.
Youth Mental Health Funding
Whenwelookbeyondtheorganizationsandexaminethefundingflows,weseethesameunderlyingthemeamplified.Theflows areevenmoreconcentrated,presentingfunderswithacriticalopportunitytorefinetheirfundingstrategiestosupportemerging opportunitiesinlow-accessareas.
ConcentrationofFunding
Tensions Related to Philanthropic Funding
Fundingremainsacomplexissue,withmanyyouthmentalhealthinitiatives,particularlysmaller,proximate,andcommunity -basedorganizations,strugglingtogrowbeyondacertainlevelduetoalackofsustained,long-termfunding. Whilethere hasbeenanincreaseinphilanthropicinterest,thefocusoftenleanstowardsshort-termwins,ratherthansystemicchange.
Short-TermPhilanthropicSupportvs. Long-TermSustainability
Short-TermWinsvs.Long-Term Investments
Short-termfundingfromphilanthropic organizationsiscrucialbutcreates tensionbetweenimmediateresource needsandlong-termsustainability. Wheninitialfundingends,manymental healthprogramsstruggletocontinue, leadingtoinstabilityanddiscontinuityin care.Manyorganizationsaredependent onrelativelysmallgrants(e.g., $100k-$200k),whichmakesitdifficult forthemtoplanlong-termandexpand theirservices.
Fundersandpolicymakersoften prioritizeinitiativeswithimmediate results,likecrisisinterventionand short-termtherapy.Thiscreatestension betweenseeingfastimpactand investinginlong-termsolutions,suchas prevention,earlyintervention,and systemicchange.Manyfundersare perceivedascautious,whichcan preventinnovative,early-stage nonprofitsfromgettingthenecessary backingtoscale.
FundingPrioritiesvs.Duplicationand CoordinationinMentalHealth Initiatives
Thementalhealthsystemis fragmented,withfundersoften supportingsimilarinitiativeswithout coordination.Thiscreatestension betweentheneedforacohesive, effectivesupportsystemandthereality ofindividualfunderswantingtomove quicklyandfundcausestheycareabout. Thisleadstoduplicateefforts, inefficiencies,andunevensupport.
What Does it Take to be a “Top” Funder?
Ouranalysisindicatesthattherearemorethan6,000privatefoundationsmakingcontributionstoyouthmentalhealth organizations.Fewerthan100ofthesefundersaccountfor50%ofthetotalgivingtoyouthmentalhealthorganizations.
Theaveragecontributionamountis~$23k.
Recommendations
Recommendations to Strengthen Services
Theserecommendationsfocusonbuildingthementalhealthcaresystemtomeettheneedsofyouth.
EnhanceAccesstoServices
ImproveCoordinationand Integration
● InvestinBuildingaDiverse,CulturallyResponsiveWorkforce
● ExpandDigitalandTelehealthServicesResponsibly
● EnhanceCrisisInterventionServices
● SimplifytheReferralSystem
● ContinuedTrainingforPrimaryCareClinicians
● FocusonPreventionandEarlyIntervention
● CreateaFrameworkofConnectedness
● EnhancePost-HospitalizationSupport
● CoordinateCareAcrossSystems
● IncreaseCross-SectorCollaboration
● SupportTransition-AgeYouth
MeasureWhatMatters
● ImproveDataSystems
● EnhanceDataCollectionandAnalysisMethods
● StrengthentheResearchandPracticeCommunity
● IncreaseFundingforInnovativeApproachestoEvidence-Building
● TranslateandShareKnowledge
Recommendations to Strengthen Ecosystems
Theserecommendationsfocusonstrengtheningtheecosystemsurroundingyouthsothatitsupportstheirwellbeing.
BuildYouth-Centered Environments
● SupportEducatorsandSchoolStaff
● FosterYouthIdentity,Agency,andResilience
● AddressBullyingandCyberbullying
● CreateSafeandSupportiveSchoolClimates
● FocusonRelationships
● AdoptaYouth-CenteredApproach
SupportFamiliesand Communities
EliminateBarriers&Address RootCauses
● ProvideParentalEducationandSupport
● DeliverServicesbyParentsforParents
● ProvidePlanningAssistance
● HelpYoungPeopleBelongandConnect
● NormalizeMentalHealthConversations
● IncreasePublicAwarenessCampaigns
● AddressSocioeconomicBarriers
● RecruitandRetainEthnicallyDiverseStaff
● DevelopSpecializedProgramsforUnderservedGroups
● EmphasizeInclusiveandCulturallyResponsivePractices
● FocusonRootCauses
● ReinventInstitutionalStructures
A Call to Action for Philanthropy
Philanthropyhasmultipleleversatitsdisposaltomakeacrucialdifferenceforyouthmentalhealth.Thefollowing recommendationsareacalltoactionforphilanthropytostepup,fillgaps,andhelptocatalyzetheeffortsoforganizationsand socialentrepreneursdoingtheessentialworkofcreatingecosystemswhereallyouthcanthrive.
● Co-designwithyouth: Alltoooften,prioritiesaresetandsolutionsaredevelopedwithouttheinputofyouth,whoaremost proximatetothechallengesandopportunitiesimpactingtheirmentalhealth.Ensureyouthareatthetabletoco-createsolutions thatareresponsivetotheirlivedrealities.
● Investinproximateorganizationsandsocialentrepreneurs:Organizationsontheground,incommunities,thatunderstandand incorporatethelivedexperienceofthosetheyserveintotheirprogrammingareuniquelypositionedtomakeanimpactonyouth mentalhealth.Thisrequireslong-term,sustainedinvestmentandcapacitybuilding.
● Leveragephilanthropy’sconveningpower:Bringfolkstogethertocoordinatestakeholdersacrosstheecosystem,share innovativeideas,investinsystemsbuilding,andshinealightonthegoodworkbeingdoneincommunitiesacrosstheU.S.
● Supporteffectivepolicydevelopment:Local,state,andfederalpoliciescanpromoteorinhibitgrowthinthementalhealthsector, andtherearepeopleworkingatalllevelsofthesystemtohaveanimpact.Statesarefindinginnovativewaystoestablish sustainablefinancingformentalhealth,includingcoverageformobilecrisisservices.
● Fillgaps:Whilegovernmentfundingisessentialandhastraditionallymadeupthemajorityoffundingformentalhealthservices, giventhecurrentpolicylandscapeintheUS,philanthropywillbeincreasinglycriticaltoensurecareisavailabletoall,particularly sub-groupslosingaccesstospecializedcare,suchasLGBTQ+youth.Intervieweesalsosharedthechallengeofleveragingpublic dollarstosupportnew,innovativeprogramswiththepotentialforhighimpact,whichisakeyplacewherephilanthropycanstepin.
● Catalyzenewknowledge:Investinbuildingtheevidencebasebyfundingnewresearchandinnovationinthefield, withaparticularfocusonthetranslationofresearchtopracticeandraisinguplocalfundsofknowledge.
● Engageinsystem-buildingacrossalloftheabove!
Appendix
How Do We Define ‘Youth Mental Health’?
Whatdowemeanbyyouth?
● Youthcanencompassalargedevelopmentalrange, includingboththeadolescentandyoungadultstages. Thefieldofyouthmentalhealthbroadlydefinesyouth asthosefrom12-25years(McGorryetal.,2024).
Whatdowemeanbymentalhealth?
● Youthmentalhealthreferstotheemotional, psychological,andsocialwellbeingofyoungpeople, shapedbytheirlivedexperiencesandthe environmentstheyinhabit.
● Forthepurposesofthisreport,wealsoinclude behavioralhealthundertheumbrellaofyouthmental health,whichrefersto“behaviorsandactionsthat affectwellness”(CDC,n.d.).Thisincludessubstance useandaddiction.
Whatencompassesyouthmentalhealth?
● ThestateofYouthMentalHealthisamultifacetedissue thatisinfluencedbybothindividualpsychologyand behavior,andbroadersocietalfactorssuchas socioeconomicstatus,race,gender,familydynamics, educationalpressures,accesstohealthcare, technologyinnovations,andworldevents.
● Mentalhealthcanencapsulateawidespectrum,from conceptsofwellnessandwellbeingtoahostof diagnosedmentalillnesses.
● Mentalhealthandmentalillnessareunderstood differentlyacrossculturesandcommunities,aswell asacrossgenerationsandwithinfamilies.
Youth Mental Health Trends
ThegraphsbelowshowthepercentageofhighschoolstudentsintheUnitedStateswhoexperiencedpersistentfeelingsof sadnessorhopelessnessduringthepastyear,bydemographicgroupduringandafterCOVID.Thoughratesbegintodecrease, theyremainalarminglyhigh,particularlyforfemalesandLGBTQ+youth.
Datasource:CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.YouthRisk BehaviorSurveyDataSummary&TrendsReport:2011-2021and 2013–2023.U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices.
Disparities in Mental Health Workforce
WhencomparingRace/Ethnicitybetweenthegeneralpopulationandthepsychologyworkforce,disparitiesemerge, highlightingtheurgentneedtomakethementalhealthworkforcemorerepresentative.
Datasource:UnitedStatesCensusBureau.PopulationEstimates,July1,2024.
Novel Analysis Approach
Createdataset:procuremillionsofIRSForm990filingsfor nonprofitorganizationsandprivatefoundationsthatcontain descriptiveprogrammaticandgrantinformation.
Developbagofwordssearchterms:synthesizefindingsfromdesk researchandinterviewstocreateasetoftermsthatcanbeusedto identifyyouthmentalhealthnonprofitsandtheirfunders.
IdentifyOrganizations:complementexistingclassificationsystems byapplyingthebagofwordssearchtermstoprogrammatic descriptionstoestablishasetofyouthmentalhealthnonprofits.
Identifyfundingflows:identifytheprivatefoundationfunding sourceandamountbycheckingthegrantrecipientinformation providedbytheprivatefoundation.