F B
ENG 102 - Lesson Eleven
17 April 2026
Mental Health Crisis
In today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, youth are constantly surrounded by fast information, social media consumption, academic pressure, peer pressure. Because of this, some people question whether adolescents are actually experiencing mental health crisis or whether society just has more public awareness than before. However, research shows that this is not only awareness but an actual growing crisis. As Beth McGinty points out, mental health struggles among youth have spiked since the pandemic, becoming a major part of the national conversation. We need to expand mental health care services and make them more accessible for youth and underserved communities, as limited access to care intensifies the growing mental health crisis.
Mental health in youth has not always been taken seriously, in the past, many health disorders were misunderstood, ignored or simply brushed off as "normal" emotional behaviors experienced in prepubescent youth. In fact, in the 20th century, the most common "solution" for serious and misunderstood mental health struggles was to send people away to isolated institutions, hidden from their community. And while some emotional changes are to be expected, research conducted by Kate R. Kuhlman, et al. has shown that adolescents experiencing conditions such as depression, anxiety and mood disorders thought to be "normal" behaviors, do in fact require treatment. When we ignore these struggles, we not only invalidate their current and hard struggles, but it also has a snowball effect that follows our youth into their adult lives.
The data backs this up. National data reports that more young people are experiencing mental health disorders now more than ever before. As recent as 2024, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that young adults had the highest rate of mental illness at 33.2% (USAFacts). In addition, diagnosed mental health disorders in children increased by 35% between 2016 and 2023 (NIH). These numbers serve as a reminder that we need to start taking youth mental health seriously. We need to get past the old "suck it up" mentality from previous generations and actually start addressing these struggles head on.
But these numbers are not just statistics, the struggles the youth face are showing up in classrooms, in day-to-day life, every single day. It's not just a personal problem; it affects their entire future. We see students skip classes, fall behind in school, and in more serious cases drop out of school, they isolate themselves from their friends, peers and even family members, because they are tired and lost. And it's not just a cycle that ends in adolescence either, when struggles are not addressed early on it follows them into their academic journey and careers leading to lost potential. If we ignore the growing problem, we are not just failing some youth, we are failing the future generation and our entire community.
While the pressures of school and home life are heavy on its own, the rise of technology has added a new layer to the crisis. We also need to address how the digital world has made this crisis into a much bigger problem. Before the invention of social media, if an adolescent was having a hard time or feeling pressure, they would simply go home and call it a day. Now, with the constant access to technology means that bullying, endless comparisons, and societies pressure to look "perfect" follows them from school to home 24/7. This need for nonstop connection spirals adolescents into doomscrolling which is causing negative effects on their health. Adolescents are losing sleep, instead of properly resting, their brains are wired to keep scrolling, causing anxieties and depression when they should be resting and recharging for the next day. The nonstop connection today's youth is experiencing is creating a baseline of struggle that previous generations never had to deal with.
Aside from social and digital pressures facing our youth, the true extent of this problem is how hard it is to receive mental health services. Even when an adolescent builds the courage to ask for help, they often hit roadblocks. According to a report in JAMA Pediatrics, nearly one in five U.S. households has a child who needs mental health treatment, and about a quarter of those families reported that those needs go unmet. In many communities, there are massive shortages of providers, long waitlists and rising costs that most families can not afford. More than 17% of families who needed help couldn't receive it because they didn't have a way to access it (JAMA Pediatrics). When an adolescent is in a crisis and must wait weeks to seek help, things don't simply work itself out, it can get worse. The lack of quick and affordable care turns into a struggle that could have been managed, and this leaves many underserved families and communities to carry heavy burdens all on their own.
Without accessible care, today's society will see a decline in how this generation functions. We will be witnessing a decline in mental health, poorer physical health, and struggles to maintain academic performances. When common symptoms like anxiety and depression go untreated, symptoms will simply just get worse over time, making it much harder to manage. This can lead to more severe crisis including self-harm, suicidal thoughts and even suicide. As reported by Jennifer Meek the leading cause of death among teenage children between the ages of 12-17 years is suicide.
These struggles also manifest in not only poor mental health but in physical health as well. As researched by Kate R. Kuhlman et al. shows, the high levels of stress and anxiety these kids carry everyday lead to major sleep disturbances. Without proper sleep, the brain of a growing adolescent does not get a break, this intensifies other symptoms. It can lead to physical pain like chronic headaches, stomach issues and even can weaken the immune system, making it difficult to stay healthy.
Because their bodies are tired, it makes it even harder for the youth to manage the heavy emotions they are dealing with. Most adolescents already struggle to put their emotions into words, especially when they are overwhelmed. And with the ongoing mental fatigue and constant stress it can make it even harder, leaving them unable to process what they are going through. Overtime, this leads to emotional dysregulation in youth, where it feels impossible to even process what they are feeling. And it creates a cycle of burnout and chronic fatigue, where even basic self-care feels like too much work to keep up with. Yet so many adolescents end up masking their struggles trying to function while dealing with deep depression just because they feel the pressure to keep up.
While there isn't a quick fix or magic solution to a crisis of this magnitude, we can at least start by making local changes that help our youth, especially in areas where they spend much of their day. Since adolescents are in school for much of their day, schools can serve as a first line of support and early intervention. Simple acts such as breathing and relaxation exercises can be incorporated into their class routines; this will help in lowering the baseline of stress. Schools can also look into workplace Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) as a model for supporting mental health and wellbeing. Following a similar approach to an ERG, mental health literacy programs can be established, from there social and emotional literacy can teach students how to label and manage their emotions before it spirals into much bigger issues. Establishing peer support groups and clubs can be beneficial, this approach would allow adolescents to talk to peers their own age, who might also be experiencing similar events in life, which often feel less intimidating than speaking with an adult.
While schools play a huge role, even small changes adults or guardians make at home can be just as empowering for adolescents. Adults have the power to be the primary source of support by simply learning how to listen. Instead of dismissing, invalidating, reacting or causing alarm, adults can create a space where adolescents feel safe to share their day-to-day life without fear of repercussions and judgement. When a young person knows they can go home and be heard without being shut down it breaks the cycle of isolation and gives them the strength to openly talk and ask for help.
Since technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be a quick solution to fix the growing crisis. Digital tools can offer 24/7 support that clinics can't always provide. For example, ensuring that services like the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline stay funded and available gives adolescents free, anonymous help when they feel like they have nowhere else to turn. Making apps similar to the Calm app that was designed to improve health, meditation and mindfulness and sleep tool free and accessible to youth would be beneficial for them as it helps reduce anxiety, improves sleep, and aims to practice self-care. On top of that, expanding teletherapy would help youth and families that experience long waitlists and bring clinical professionals directly to adolescents in rural areas who can't drive long distances to get the care they need.
While short-term fixes provide immediate relief, long-term solutions are essential in fixing the root problem of the mental health crisis. As reported by Samuel Menaget, a big issue is the healthcare system itself, where services are often too expensive and difficult to access, even for families who have insurance. Insurance companies sometimes limit coverage, making it hard for families to get the consistent, and steady care they need and seek.
Healthcare reform needs to be in the frontline of change, closing the treatment gap by ensuring that having insurance leads to actually receiving care. In order to achieve this several reforms are needed. First, improving provider pay encourages health professionals to join insurance networks, which can reduce waiting times, and eliminate the scarcity of providers. Second, mandating that insurance providers provide accurate, up to date list of providers that are available. This would prevent families from dealing with out-of-date information and hitting dead ends in finding care. Third, standardizing care, defining what treatments are covered based on medical standards rather than allowing insurances to make profits year after year. This would ensure that patients receive the most effective treatments based on their diagnoses.
Furthermore, research also shows that there are massive gaps in access for underserved communities. Many families in rural or low-income areas face hurdles like long drives, lack of transportation, and very few open appointments (School Mental Health). To make a long lasting difference, we need a plan that meets kids exactly where they are every day. As Jennifer Meek et al. point out, one of the best ways to accomplish this is through programs like the Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems (CSMHS). Instead of waiting for a crisis to happen and then reacting, this model builds a safety net right into the school day. It covers everything from teaching every student how to handle stress to providing serious, one-on-one support for the kids who are struggling the most. Funding programs like this in rural areas would ensure that youth and families receive the help they need then and there.
Beyond policy and school program changes, we must address the fact that there simply is not enough professionals to go around. Alexandra Jaffee reported that the pandemic made the existing problem even worse, with hundreds of thousands of professionals leaving the industry. In fact, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that in just one month, over 521,000 healthcare and social workers quit their jobs, leaving a huge hole in our ability to provide care.
A major long-term fix involves investing in the people who provide the care by doing away with predatory student loan lending practices, offering more scholarship programs for students entering the mental health field. This encourages more people to become counselors and psychiatrists, especially in rural areas where the shortage of providers is scarce.
At the same time, mental health care should not only start when something is wrong. It needs to be part of every child's life from the very beginning. By integrating routine mental health screenings into every pediatric checkup, starting as early as infancy, doctors can catch red flags like behavior issues, anxiety or developmental delays before it turns into a full-blown crisis. However, support should not stop at the doctor's office. Having trained mental health professionals in schools creates a consistent, everyday safety net, this allows children to be observed and supported as they continue to grow.
If we can build a bigger, stronger workforce and start identifying mental health struggles early on, we can stop playing catch-up and finally get ahead of this crisis head on. Instead of putting a band aid over the problems after they happen, we can start preventing them in the first place.
In conclusion the youth mental health crisis is a real, serious and an ever-growing problem that cannot be ignored. And while awareness has increased exponentially and open dialogues are being held, access to care has not kept up with the rising need. This brings us back to the core of the issue, we must expand mental health services and make them accessible for everyone, especially in underserved communities. Without proper support adolescents will continue to face the negative effects of their mental, physical, and academic wellbeing. By implementing simple short-term solutions such as educating youth on what mental health is and reforming health care services for mental health services, we will be able to bridge gaps. Bottom line, making care accessible is what gives the current generation and future generations a better chance.
Works Cited
ENG 102 - Lesson Eleven
17 April 2026
Mental Health Crisis
In today's fast-paced, technology-driven world, youth are constantly surrounded by fast information, social media consumption, academic pressure, peer pressure. Because of this, some people question whether adolescents are actually experiencing mental health crisis or whether society just has more public awareness than before. However, research shows that this is not only awareness but an actual growing crisis. As Beth McGinty points out, mental health struggles among youth have spiked since the pandemic, becoming a major part of the national conversation. We need to expand mental health care services and make them more accessible for youth and underserved communities, as limited access to care intensifies the growing mental health crisis.
Mental health in youth has not always been taken seriously, in the past, many health disorders were misunderstood, ignored or simply brushed off as "normal" emotional behaviors experienced in prepubescent youth. In fact, in the 20th century, the most common "solution" for serious and misunderstood mental health struggles was to send people away to isolated institutions, hidden from their community. And while some emotional changes are to be expected, research conducted by Kate R. Kuhlman, et al. has shown that adolescents experiencing conditions such as depression, anxiety and mood disorders thought to be "normal" behaviors, do in fact require treatment. When we ignore these struggles, we not only invalidate their current and hard struggles, but it also has a snowball effect that follows our youth into their adult lives.
The data backs this up. National data reports that more young people are experiencing mental health disorders now more than ever before. As recent as 2024, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) reported that young adults had the highest rate of mental illness at 33.2% (USAFacts). In addition, diagnosed mental health disorders in children increased by 35% between 2016 and 2023 (NIH). These numbers serve as a reminder that we need to start taking youth mental health seriously. We need to get past the old "suck it up" mentality from previous generations and actually start addressing these struggles head on.
But these numbers are not just statistics, the struggles the youth face are showing up in classrooms, in day-to-day life, every single day. It's not just a personal problem; it affects their entire future. We see students skip classes, fall behind in school, and in more serious cases drop out of school, they isolate themselves from their friends, peers and even family members, because they are tired and lost. And it's not just a cycle that ends in adolescence either, when struggles are not addressed early on it follows them into their academic journey and careers leading to lost potential. If we ignore the growing problem, we are not just failing some youth, we are failing the future generation and our entire community.
While the pressures of school and home life are heavy on its own, the rise of technology has added a new layer to the crisis. We also need to address how the digital world has made this crisis into a much bigger problem. Before the invention of social media, if an adolescent was having a hard time or feeling pressure, they would simply go home and call it a day. Now, with the constant access to technology means that bullying, endless comparisons, and societies pressure to look "perfect" follows them from school to home 24/7. This need for nonstop connection spirals adolescents into doomscrolling which is causing negative effects on their health. Adolescents are losing sleep, instead of properly resting, their brains are wired to keep scrolling, causing anxieties and depression when they should be resting and recharging for the next day. The nonstop connection today's youth is experiencing is creating a baseline of struggle that previous generations never had to deal with.
Aside from social and digital pressures facing our youth, the true extent of this problem is how hard it is to receive mental health services. Even when an adolescent builds the courage to ask for help, they often hit roadblocks. According to a report in JAMA Pediatrics, nearly one in five U.S. households has a child who needs mental health treatment, and about a quarter of those families reported that those needs go unmet. In many communities, there are massive shortages of providers, long waitlists and rising costs that most families can not afford. More than 17% of families who needed help couldn't receive it because they didn't have a way to access it (JAMA Pediatrics). When an adolescent is in a crisis and must wait weeks to seek help, things don't simply work itself out, it can get worse. The lack of quick and affordable care turns into a struggle that could have been managed, and this leaves many underserved families and communities to carry heavy burdens all on their own.
Without accessible care, today's society will see a decline in how this generation functions. We will be witnessing a decline in mental health, poorer physical health, and struggles to maintain academic performances. When common symptoms like anxiety and depression go untreated, symptoms will simply just get worse over time, making it much harder to manage. This can lead to more severe crisis including self-harm, suicidal thoughts and even suicide. As reported by Jennifer Meek the leading cause of death among teenage children between the ages of 12-17 years is suicide.
These struggles also manifest in not only poor mental health but in physical health as well. As researched by Kate R. Kuhlman et al. shows, the high levels of stress and anxiety these kids carry everyday lead to major sleep disturbances. Without proper sleep, the brain of a growing adolescent does not get a break, this intensifies other symptoms. It can lead to physical pain like chronic headaches, stomach issues and even can weaken the immune system, making it difficult to stay healthy.
Because their bodies are tired, it makes it even harder for the youth to manage the heavy emotions they are dealing with. Most adolescents already struggle to put their emotions into words, especially when they are overwhelmed. And with the ongoing mental fatigue and constant stress it can make it even harder, leaving them unable to process what they are going through. Overtime, this leads to emotional dysregulation in youth, where it feels impossible to even process what they are feeling. And it creates a cycle of burnout and chronic fatigue, where even basic self-care feels like too much work to keep up with. Yet so many adolescents end up masking their struggles trying to function while dealing with deep depression just because they feel the pressure to keep up.
While there isn't a quick fix or magic solution to a crisis of this magnitude, we can at least start by making local changes that help our youth, especially in areas where they spend much of their day. Since adolescents are in school for much of their day, schools can serve as a first line of support and early intervention. Simple acts such as breathing and relaxation exercises can be incorporated into their class routines; this will help in lowering the baseline of stress. Schools can also look into workplace Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) as a model for supporting mental health and wellbeing. Following a similar approach to an ERG, mental health literacy programs can be established, from there social and emotional literacy can teach students how to label and manage their emotions before it spirals into much bigger issues. Establishing peer support groups and clubs can be beneficial, this approach would allow adolescents to talk to peers their own age, who might also be experiencing similar events in life, which often feel less intimidating than speaking with an adult.
While schools play a huge role, even small changes adults or guardians make at home can be just as empowering for adolescents. Adults have the power to be the primary source of support by simply learning how to listen. Instead of dismissing, invalidating, reacting or causing alarm, adults can create a space where adolescents feel safe to share their day-to-day life without fear of repercussions and judgement. When a young person knows they can go home and be heard without being shut down it breaks the cycle of isolation and gives them the strength to openly talk and ask for help.
Since technology is a big part of the problem, it can also be a quick solution to fix the growing crisis. Digital tools can offer 24/7 support that clinics can't always provide. For example, ensuring that services like the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline stay funded and available gives adolescents free, anonymous help when they feel like they have nowhere else to turn. Making apps similar to the Calm app that was designed to improve health, meditation and mindfulness and sleep tool free and accessible to youth would be beneficial for them as it helps reduce anxiety, improves sleep, and aims to practice self-care. On top of that, expanding teletherapy would help youth and families that experience long waitlists and bring clinical professionals directly to adolescents in rural areas who can't drive long distances to get the care they need.
While short-term fixes provide immediate relief, long-term solutions are essential in fixing the root problem of the mental health crisis. As reported by Samuel Menaget, a big issue is the healthcare system itself, where services are often too expensive and difficult to access, even for families who have insurance. Insurance companies sometimes limit coverage, making it hard for families to get the consistent, and steady care they need and seek.
Healthcare reform needs to be in the frontline of change, closing the treatment gap by ensuring that having insurance leads to actually receiving care. In order to achieve this several reforms are needed. First, improving provider pay encourages health professionals to join insurance networks, which can reduce waiting times, and eliminate the scarcity of providers. Second, mandating that insurance providers provide accurate, up to date list of providers that are available. This would prevent families from dealing with out-of-date information and hitting dead ends in finding care. Third, standardizing care, defining what treatments are covered based on medical standards rather than allowing insurances to make profits year after year. This would ensure that patients receive the most effective treatments based on their diagnoses.
Furthermore, research also shows that there are massive gaps in access for underserved communities. Many families in rural or low-income areas face hurdles like long drives, lack of transportation, and very few open appointments (School Mental Health). To make a long lasting difference, we need a plan that meets kids exactly where they are every day. As Jennifer Meek et al. point out, one of the best ways to accomplish this is through programs like the Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems (CSMHS). Instead of waiting for a crisis to happen and then reacting, this model builds a safety net right into the school day. It covers everything from teaching every student how to handle stress to providing serious, one-on-one support for the kids who are struggling the most. Funding programs like this in rural areas would ensure that youth and families receive the help they need then and there.
Beyond policy and school program changes, we must address the fact that there simply is not enough professionals to go around. Alexandra Jaffee reported that the pandemic made the existing problem even worse, with hundreds of thousands of professionals leaving the industry. In fact, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that in just one month, over 521,000 healthcare and social workers quit their jobs, leaving a huge hole in our ability to provide care.
A major long-term fix involves investing in the people who provide the care by doing away with predatory student loan lending practices, offering more scholarship programs for students entering the mental health field. This encourages more people to become counselors and psychiatrists, especially in rural areas where the shortage of providers is scarce.
At the same time, mental health care should not only start when something is wrong. It needs to be part of every child's life from the very beginning. By integrating routine mental health screenings into every pediatric checkup, starting as early as infancy, doctors can catch red flags like behavior issues, anxiety or developmental delays before it turns into a full-blown crisis. However, support should not stop at the doctor's office. Having trained mental health professionals in schools creates a consistent, everyday safety net, this allows children to be observed and supported as they continue to grow.
If we can build a bigger, stronger workforce and start identifying mental health struggles early on, we can stop playing catch-up and finally get ahead of this crisis head on. Instead of putting a band aid over the problems after they happen, we can start preventing them in the first place.
In conclusion the youth mental health crisis is a real, serious and an ever-growing problem that cannot be ignored. And while awareness has increased exponentially and open dialogues are being held, access to care has not kept up with the rising need. This brings us back to the core of the issue, we must expand mental health services and make them accessible for everyone, especially in underserved communities. Without proper support adolescents will continue to face the negative effects of their mental, physical, and academic wellbeing. By implementing simple short-term solutions such as educating youth on what mental health is and reforming health care services for mental health services, we will be able to bridge gaps. Bottom line, making care accessible is what gives the current generation and future generations a better chance.
Works Cited
