- 16% of the global burden of disease and injury is due to mental health conditions among young people aged 10鈥�19 years. 1
- Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age, but most go undetected and untreated. 2
- In the U.S., one in five teens (ages 13-18) lives with a mental health condition. 3
- Young Americans aged 18-25 have the highest prevalence of any mental illness (25.8%) compared to adults aged 26-49 (22.2%) and aged 50 and older (13.8%). 4
- Despite the prevalence of these disorders, the behavioral health care needs of adolescents often go unmet鈥攐nly 38.4% of young adults with any mental illness received mental health services, less than adults aged 26-49 years (43.3%) and aged 50 and older (44.2%). 5
- The consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental well-being and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.
- Our existing behavioral health care system for adolescents and young adults is fragmented and lacks continuity of care among schools/communities/families, as well as coordination of services in the systems of education/foster care/substance abuse/juvenile justice/vocational development.
Rising rates of suicide, especially among black youth
- Globally, depression is one of the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents, with suicide now the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year-olds. 6
- In the U.S., suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 24. 7
- Among Americans aged 10 to 24, the suicide rate increased 25% from 2017 to 2019. 8
- Among all U.S. youth ages 10 to 24, suicidal thoughts and plans dropped between 1991 and 2017, but among black youth, suicidal attempts increased by 73%. 9
- Pervasive structural inequities and social determinants of health, including racism, poverty, violence, education, housing, employment and nutrition, may be driving these numbers for youth of color.