Rising Concerns in Youth Mental Health
In a political landscape often marked by division, certain issues like youth mental health still evoke shared commitment across party lines.
The rising rates of youth suicide, self-harm, and related mental health challenges demand urgent attention from lawmakers, regardless of their political affiliations.
The alarming findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey paint a stark picture of American youth today.
Over the past ten years, mental health indicators have taken a serious downturn.
In 2023, about 20% of students reported having contemplated suicide, with nearly 10% attempting it.
These figures signal a mounting crisis that affects even the youngest members of our society.
Bipartisan Legislative Actions
As a co-founder of Cartwheel, a telehealth service dedicated to supporting students, families, and educators, I’ve witnessed a significant increase in referrals from school counselors.
The reasons for these referrals vary by age group, but anxiety, depression, and issues with interpersonal relationships are common themes.
The evident lack of adequate resources in schools and communities underscores the urgent need for intervention in this area.
In an era defined by political discord, state legislatures are emerging as the most promising arenas for swift, effective, and bipartisan initiatives aimed at addressing youth mental health.
Here are four dedicated lawmakers from both the Republican and Democratic parties making strides in this important field:
- Michael Crider, a Republican from Indiana, has been a vocal proponent of mental health reform since joining the Indiana Senate in 2012.
Drawing from his past experience managing law enforcement for the state’s Department of Natural Resources, he has seen firsthand how the pandemic has intensified challenges in mental health services.
In 2023, Crider led the way in passing Senate Bill 1, which established a network of certified behavioral health clinics catering to both adults and children.
He plans to work alongside the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable to expand these vital services further.
- Dafna Michaelson-Jenet has been championing mental health initiatives in Colorado since her election to the House of Representatives in 2017.
She played a crucial role in crafting HB 18-1177 in 2018, legislation to enhance access to youth suicide prevention resources and allow minors to seek outpatient therapy without parental consent.
Understanding the increased demands created by the pandemic, she launched the iMatter program, offering up to six complimentary therapy sessions to young residents.
Recently securing funding to keep the iMatter program operational for another decade, Michaelson-Jenet continues her advocacy, now serving as the president pro tem of the Colorado Senate.
- Todd Jones in Georgia draws personal motivation from his own family’s struggles with mental health.
After enduring difficulties in obtaining treatment for his son’s schizoaffective disorder, he recognized the barriers many families face in finding care.
This experience inspired him to champion the Mental Health Parity Act (HB 1013) in 2022, which greatly enhanced mental health insurance coverage in the state.
Additionally, he is actively promoting an initiative to boost Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health services, aiming to increase access to care for families statewide.
- John Velis of Massachusetts took a significant step forward in mental health during his first budget session as chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery.
He initiated a pilot program for telehealth services within schools, partnering with Cartwheel, Boston Children’s Hospital, and the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program to implement these services in Somerville and Agawam school districts.
Collaborative Efforts Across the Nation
Across the nation, legislators from various backgrounds are collaborating to push forward mental health initiatives.
In Pennsylvania, a bipartisan coalition has secured an annual $100 million budget for mental health and school safety programs, while Arizona has pledged $2 million to develop a rural telehealth pilot initiative.
Additionally, several states, including Wisconsin, Ohio, and Florida, are now providing mental health funding on a per-pupil basis.
Such collaboration across the political spectrum reflects a collective commitment to addressing the pressing mental health issues facing youth in our society today.
Source: The74million