Why Youth Mental Health is Essential to Healthy Development

However, millions of youth, defined as ages 12 to 17, living with mental or behavioral health challenges go undiagnosed and lack support. Youth mental health disorders come in all shapes and sizes such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders. Substance use disorders, such as the use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, are also prevalent. 

In 2021, 35% of youth experienced a major depressive episode (MDE) in the last year and 27% of the youth who experienced an MDE used alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other drugs. This would be like one-third of youth experiencing a broken leg, and a quarter of those youth also using a substance. The youth should receive medical care (i.e. x-rays, casts or boots) and be referred to a counselor regarding the drug use. However, with MDEs, one-third of our youth are not receiving mental health care.

Less than half (44%) of the youth who experienced an MDE with severe impairment received treatment for depression in the past year. Impairment is measured across 4 areas of life: chores at home, school or work, close relationships with family and social life. Of the youth population reported as having experienced an MDE in the last year and alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other drug use, 4 in 10 youth did not receive services (1).

We would not leave the youth alone to heal their own broken legs. Similarly, we cannot assume that youth living with depression or depression and substance use can manage their own mental and behavioral health care.