Across the U.S., there are positive and negative trends in the mental health of youth leading into 2026 based on what the JED Foundation reports. Despite the fact that schools and communities have invested in prevention and early intervention, youth continue to struggle with high levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, according to JED. Increased stressors on young people, as well as the continued development of new approaches to supporting young people have created both vulnerabilities and resiliencies in youth mental health trends.
Increases in state budgets for school-based mental health services, as well as federal block grants and safety legislation funds, are being used by many states to expand mental health services for youth. Districts across the nation are hiring additional counselors; expanding access to peer support; and providing comprehensive social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula because of how youth mental health challenges have created a demand for new supports. The JED Foundation District Mental Health Initiative is an example of how JED plans to provide intensive support to school districts to create and implement school-based mental health services throughout the country in 2025-2026.
There are also many significant differences in youth mental health trends. Young adults in marginalized communities, LGBTQ+ youth, and youth experiencing financial difficulties have much higher levels of distress and very few resources available to them.
In response to this, advocacy coalitions are focusing on youth voices when making policy. Adolescents and college-aged students have been encouraged to share their experiences in order to co-design support systems for their peers.
Parents and educators need to view the trends regarding the mental health of young people as an opportunity to act, rather than a reason to lose hope. Simple acts such as regularly checking in with the young person, providing them with validation about their feelings, and helping them connect with someone they feel comfortable talking to can have an impact.
JED and other partners are making it clear that while we need to be concerned about these trends related to youth mental health, we also need to view these trends as an indicator of where we can focus our efforts to make meaningful change.
Source: The Jed Foundation – Youth Mental Health Trends in 2025
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