Youth mental health is an escalating crisis — this New York City scheme may offer a route out

Mental health among children and adolescents is a critical issue that deserves attention and action. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1 in 7 (14%) of adolescents aged 10-19 globally experience a mental disorder, with depression being one of the leading causes of illness and disability in this age group. Alarmingly, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among individuals aged 15-19 years.

The prevalence of mental health issues in young people has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Depression and anxiety among children and adolescents have risen by more than two-fold since before the pandemic, with depression rates increasing from 8.5% to 23% and anxiety rates increasing from 11% to 19%.

Biological, psychological and environmental factors all play a role. Negative childhood experiences, such as exposure to violence, having a caregiver with mental illness, experiencing bullying or living in poverty, can increase the risk of developing mental health problems.

Addressing mental health challenges among young people is not simple. In low-income and middle-income countries, only around 16% of children and adolescents with mental disorders receive treatment.

Limited access to mental health services, societal stigma surrounding mental health, insufficient funding for mental health programmes and limited awareness of mental health problems among children, adolescents and their caregivers pose significant barriers to providing effective support and treatment.

One key aspect is the influence of social media on adolescent mental health. With 90% of teenagers using at least one social media platform regularly, the impact of these platforms on their well-being is a significant concern.

Excessive social media use is associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety and loneliness among adolescents. Social media can contribute to poor body image and low self-esteem, particularly among adolescent girls. All of this has a serious impact later in life, as these young people enter the workforce and their future relationships unequipped for success.

To address the mental health needs of children and adolescents, a multifaceted approach is necessary. Improving access to mental health services, destigmatizing mental health issues, increasing funding for mental health programmes and raising awareness among caregivers and young people themselves are crucial.

Efforts should also be made to mitigate the potential negative impacts of social media through education on responsible social media use, promoting digital literacy and encouraging alternative activities that foster in-person connections and self-esteem.

Additionally, providing supportive family and school environments, addressing academic pressures and implementing anti-bullying policies are essential to promote mental well-being among young people.

This can be achieved through action that harnesses collective wisdom and a holistic approach to improving mental health. And in some places, this work is already underway.

In New York, for example, the city is taking action to help its young people deal with mental health issues. In 2023, half of teenagers surveyed in New York City reported mild to severe symptoms of depression.

That’s why in 2023, New York City launched a mental health agenda called Care, Community, Action. The plan is built on three pillars: creating supports for people living with serious mental illness, reducing overdose and promoting the mental health of youth.

When it comes to mental health services and youth, our impulses tend to be prescriptive and protective, and we too often remove the young person’s agency to be part of solutions that work best for them. To deliver results, this plan does not treat New York’s young people as a monolith.

The first step the city took was to survey the issues young New Yorkers face: the problems they struggle with, their coping mechanisms, as well as the media they use. While New York City has carried out various surveys of youth and behaviour over the years, this survey was more granular and more targeted to working with them on interventions that they would be most likely to use and benefit from.

And while these surveys were underway, the city took action, launching a programme and creating tools intended to meet their mental health needs without delay.

Take, for example, NYC Teenspace. It is a free tele-mental health service available to all New York City teenagers between aged 13 to 17. That’s nearly 450,000 people. The online therapy platform allows New York City teenagers to connect with a licensed therapist through phone, video and text on any mobile device completely free-of-charge. NYC Teenspace is already delivering results.

In the first six months, nearly 7,000 young people signed up. Of those who signed up, 80% identify as a person of colour and come from neighborhoods that struggle most with health and social outcomes, and 65% of them report experiencing relief and 64% reported improvement in their mental health. Of those using the platform, 96% used text and over 40% used both text and video.

The city didn’t stop there, though. The commitment to supporting youth mental health also included engaging with young people and industry leaders on topics influencing youth mental health — including social media — and using that insight to inform next steps.

It has expanded investment into the 988 crisis response hotline, which anyone can call if they’re experiencing distress. New York City has also expanded support for school-based mental health centres, with plans to open 16 new ones in the next year, in partnership with the Mayor's office.

New York City’s Care, Community, Action initiative is one leading example of how authorities can take the mental health of their youth into their own hands. The World Economic Forum is acting alongside its partners too.

The Forum will soon unveil a groundbreaking initiative that brings together key stakeholders from governments, academic institutions, civil society organizations, the UN and the private sector. By leveraging global insights and expertise, it will develop comprehensive strategies and recommendations for strengthening youth mental well-being and promoting a healthy childhood for all.

Recognizing that today's youth are the workforce of tomorrow, this initiative builds upon the Forum's ongoing efforts to address mental health challenges in the workplace which unites 50 global organizations to tackle stigmas, break down barriers and improve access to mental health support for employees.

By fostering public-private partnerships and harnessing collective wisdom, the World Economic Forum seeks to pave the way for a future where children and young people can thrive, both mentally and physically. This holistic approach not only nurtures the potential of upcoming generations but also lays a solid foundation for a more resilient and productive society.