Youth mental health is getting an unprecedented surge of attention from the national level in 2026 due to the Coalition to Empower Our Future (CEF). The campaign outline is aligned with the Winter Olympics so that youth mental health issues are more publicized through the Olympic platform while also sharing solutions that are occurring in today’s society. The CEF’s campaign is not based solely on the various alarming statistics regarding youth mental health.
Instead, the campaign outlines youth mental health as a community problem that can only be solved successfully with the support of caring adults, trusted mentors, by participating in sports, and through community‑based programs. The Coalition delivers a unified message to leaders stating that youth mental health challenges cannot be solved through the use of quick apps and/or one‑time assemblies alone, rather successful solutions will require long term relationships and a safe environment where youth will be able to receive the support and value that they desire from their peers and adults.
Youth mental health is not just about statistics and theories; it’s about storytelling. Athletes/teens/parents provide numerous insights as to how they have struggled with mental health issues throughout their lives. Many have reported how momentarily putting feelings like anxiety, isolation, and grief into a voice helped relieve them somewhat. We know that the people who participated in these stories were significant people in their lives through consistency and through listening, providing them some support (an opportunity) during a time when they were dealing with youth mental health difficulties.
The campaign also highlights underlying drivers of youth mental health issues, including social media pressures, academic stress, insecurity in families’ economies, and the lingering effects of a pandemic. The Coalition believes in order to effectively address youth mental health issues, we must invest in mentoring programs; provide access to counseling; develop after-school programs; and create policies that allow families the necessary time and resources to effectively support their children.
It is also important to recognize that youth will be partners in the development of mental health solutions for youth—not just recipients of services. Teens should be able to articulate what supports them (trustworthy adults, creating an inclusive school environment, having a safe ‘rest’ area apart from the ever-present stress of being ‘good’ at everything) and help us to design programs based on their feedback.
By connecting youth mental health to the Olympic Games—a time characterized by endurance, teamwork, and national pride—the Coalition’s goal is to change the dialogue [regarding] youth mental health from a crisis to a commitment. The Coalition believes that if we can do this, we will begin to shift the national conversation with respect to all aspects of youth mental health (sports, school, and the community).
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