Looking for recent news discussing mental health topics among youth and young adults? From time to time, the Young Minds Initiative will now feature briefs covering important stories, podcasts, & more that relate to mental health! Here are our top finds that you may have missed:
Mental health statistics 2024
The worst of the pandemic is behind us. College students’ mental health needs are not
Therapy dogs take on mental health support in schools
University of Arizona secures grant to provide support to LGBTQ+ youth
Photo credit: Siora Photography via Unsplash.
Mental health statistics 2024
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 50 million adults in the United States (over 20% of the population) experience some kind of mental illness and 5% experience a serious mental illness. Other notable findings include:
1 in 6 children, ages 6-17, in the U.S. experience mental illness.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for kids, ages 10-14, and the third-leading cause of death for people, ages 15-24.
The most common mental illness among adults in the U.S. is anxiety, affecting nearly 1 in 5 people, affecting 19.1% of the population.
The second most common mental illness reported by adults is major depressive episodes, affecting 8.3% of the population.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is the third most common mental illness, affecting 3.6% of the population (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2023).
Based on data of individuals who report experiencing mental illness — meaning that this data excludes anyone who does not receive a diagnosis — Arizona ranks in the top 10 states with the highest rate of mental illness, affecting over 1.3 million people (23.89% of the population).
55% of U.S. adults are not receiving treatment for their mental illness, according to Mental Health America, translating to over 28 million who are not receiving care or support.
Why are people not seeking help?
42% of individuals report not being able to afford mental health care
27% of individuals do not know where to seek help
26% of individuals believe they can address their issues on their own
19% of individuals report not having enough time to seek treatment
17% of individuals report that their health insurance is insufficient for treatment (Mental Health America, 2023).
Article Info
Authors: Timothy Moore and Kara McGinley
Publisher: USA Today
Date: March 12, 2024
Link: https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/health-insurance/mental-health-statistics/#article-sources
The worst of the pandemic is behind us. College students’ mental health needs are not
Recent data reveals that college students are struggling as 40% navigate academics and early adulthood with some level of depression and 36% were diagnosed with anxiety disorders. Even for individuals who have yet to enter higher education, a survey conducted by EAB found that 28% of high school students reported that having mental health concerns is a central reason why they may consider postponing enrollment or even avoiding college altogether. Most notably, more than half of trans and nonbinary students, 33% of Black students, and 30% of Native American students were most likely to report this notion.
Article Info
Author: Olivia Sanchez
Publisher: The Hechinger Report
Date: February 9, 2024
Therapy dogs take on mental health support in schools
Public schools and community colleges are turning to therapy dogs to alleviate stress and support students of all ages.
Mesa Public Schools implemented a Paws & Peers program — which aims to address the social and emotional needs of both students and staff. — The program works with employees who dedicate at least fourteen weeks to obedience and therapy training, eventually earning their certification and becoming a staff member of one of the City’s many public schools. Originally launched in 2019, Paws & Peers manages over 90 therapy dogs across 45 schools ranging from elementary to high school.
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In 2020, Fountain Hills Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Jagodzinski started to bring in Frank, a therapy bulldog, on the different campuses to spread positivity among students and staff. Since then, Frank has served as a conversation starter around bullying and mental health, helping put smiles on students’ faces.
Article Info
Author: Julia Schamko
Publisher: Cronkite News
Date: March 11, 2024
University of Arizona secures grant to provide support to LGBTQ+ youth
The University of Arizona recently received nearly $4 million to support the expansion of its services encompassing mental health, education, and healthcare for LGBTQ+ youth living in southern Arizona. Funding will be allocated between two programs: Southwest Institute for Research on Women and Spectrum+.
Spectrum+ is a program that offers sexual health education as well as testing for HIV and hepatitis and HIV prevention navigation for young LGBTQ+ adults. While Spectrum+ is already active and providing services, its new Family Pride Initiative has yet to launch and will likely take at least a month before rolling out. This particular initiative will provide mental health services to LGBTQ+ youth and offer support to parents, counselors and other individuals who are learning how to help LGBTQ+ individuals in providing the best standard of care.
Article Info
Author: John Tanet
Publisher: 12 News
Date: March 11, 2024
Link: https://www.12news.com/article/money/uarizona-secures-4m-grant-help-lgbtq-youth/75-8c139db5-bc65-46f6-b19b-6b49efa1c950
Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a mental health professional or other qualified provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.
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