Policies about mental health for young people globally are being scrutinized following the last World Youth Report which revealed how many systems still do not meet the needs of young people. While a global one, the message from this report hits home in the United States where levels of anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide are still high among young people. The report recommends that governments create youth mental health policies that are “(1) inclusive of young people; (2) informed by young people; and (3) grounded in the realization of human rights,” rather than assuming that young people will just passively receive care.
For the U.S., a major component of youth mental health policies is that instead of simply increasing service capacity, they should involve young people in shaping what services should be established. One of the specific recommendations in this report is to promote stronger support in schools, create improved access to affordable counselling, and establish protections against online harm that could impact the mental health of young people. The report also advocates for youth mental health policy addressing the intersecting challenges of poverty, discrimination, climate anxiety, and the stress related to living in a digital world… All of which weigh heavily on today’s youth.
Young leaders in the U.S. are using their voices as an echo of these requests to create youth-focused mental health legislation, including advisory councils, peer-led programs, and open budget priorities. By creating youth-led mental health legislation, youth can create legislation that is more relevant, trustworthy, and will likely be accessed by those for whom it was created. The report’s basic premise is clear: If we want to strengthen the youth’s mental health, we must listen to their voices so their experiences will influence the creation of policies that impact
Source: United Nations DESA – World Youth Report: Youth‑Informed Mental Health Policies
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