Reimagining the Future of Youth Mental Health | Forum Highlights
The youth mental health crisis is only getting worse.
● Life online is the norm: Research suggests that teens are spending more hours consuming online content than they are in school and increasingly looking to creators and AI chatbots for support.
● Rising mental health concerns: Nearly 1 in 5 youth age 12–17 at least one major depressive episode in the past year and report significant symptoms of anxiety.
○ Girls, queer, and trans youth are especially vulnerable and suicide remains a leading cause of death, particularly among Black and American Indian youth.
○ Over 50% of youth who have purported need struggle to find a trusted mental health provider who can support them in feeling better.
Youth voice must be front and center. Companies investing in youth mental health must find ways to give young people a voice in co-creation. TikTok and Rare Beauty surfaced strong examples of how they center and amplify youth voice through youth councils, college ambassador program, co-design processes, and youth-informed product and content development.
Balance between clinical and cultural relevance is key. Companies can play a critical role in bridging mental health research and information with culturally relevant digital formats that make youth take notice. How?
● Working with clinicians and nonprofit experts to make sure messaging is grounded in research but translated into youth-native formats, language, and storytelling.
● Developing resources that are culturally relevant to address the unique experiences of youth— especially those from diverse backgrounds.
● “When companies focus on content and work that feels like it’s coming out of a group chat, not a boardroom, it connects with us more.”— Pritika Kharkwal, National Youth Advisory Board Member & Student at University of Pennsylvania
Building systems and infrastructures resonate more than campaigns. Young people are highly attuned to what is performative vs. structurally supported. Developing evergreen resources, support systems and information is critical in driving long-term outcomes.