Youth mental health challenges are perhaps more visible today than ever, but access to care remains a significant issue. Young people ages 10 to 24 make up 15% of all deaths by suicide, and a look at the data suggests that youth mental health has been declining for quite some time.
The CDC reports that between 2000 and 2021, the suicide rate for people ages 10 to 24 increased by 52.2%. As of 2022, 10% of youth ages 3 to 17 had been diagnosed with anxiety, and 4% had been diagnosed with depression.
It’s important to note that these statistics don’t take into account the many youth who struggle with undiagnosed mental health concerns. While there’s no singular reason young people struggle to access mental health care, awareness of barriers to mental health treatment for youth can be the first step toward meaningful change.
What Is Youth Mental Health?
When parents, educators, and policymakers talk about youth mental health, they aren’t exclusively talking about the presence or absence of mental health disorders. Youth mental health includes various elements of emotional, psychological, and social well-being, including:
- Forming meaningful social relationships
- Regulating emotions
- Adapting to change
- Being able to ask for help
- Nurturing self-esteem
- Coping with challenges
Cultivating mental health in schools is a coordinated effort. Teachers, counselors, other staff members, and parents can work together to support students of all ages. That support starts with taking a look at six widespread barriers to mental health treatment for youth.
1. Stigma Around Mental Health
The stigma around mental health diagnoses discourages adults and youth alike from seeking mental health care. Young people are often especially afraid to be labeled as “different” or “weak,” and it’s not unusual for children and teens to subsequently try to hide or minimize symptoms of mental health challenges instead of seeking help.
Unfortunately, mental health stigma is perpetuated by even seemingly minor things. Statements like “the weather is so bipolar” or “he’s so OCD” trivialize the challenges that kids and teens with mental health conditions struggle with every day.
By avoiding language that mocks or makes light of mental health struggles and normalizing conversations about mental health and wellness, teachers, parents, and members of the wider community can start dismantling stigma.
2. Lack of Access to Mental Health Resources
Countless Americans struggle to access both medical and mental health care. For some students and families, particularly those in rural areas, there may be a geographical barrier to care. For others, limitations on insurance coverage may make it impossible to afford care.
Even if a student’s parents are supportive and can afford treatment for mental health concerns, there’s another barrier to contend with: a lack of child psychologists and other mental health professionals qualified to treat youth.
Currently, there are only 14 child psychiatrists for every 100,000 children in the United States. This means that if parents do manage to get an appointment for their child, they might face long wait times — even if the child is in urgent need.
3. Lack of Awareness and Education
It can be difficult for youth to recognize that they need help — and for parents and teachers to intervene — if neither group understands how to recognize symptoms of mental health concerns. Early identification of symptoms is critically important for young people struggling with mental health.
Fortunately, this is one of the barriers to mental health treatment for youth that can be easily overcome. Mental health programs in schools can teach children and adults to recognize the signs of mental health concerns in themselves and others.
They can also teach students emotional regulation skills, healthy coping mechanisms, and resilience-building skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.
4. Confidentiality Concerns and Parental Involvement
Students seeking mental health care in schools have an understandable concern that their personal struggles may be revealed to their parents or school authorities. For schools, it’s important to strike a delicate balance between respecting each student’s privacy and autonomy and involving parents in their care.
School counselors should receive clear guidance explaining when a student’s parents must be contacted. From there, they must work to earn the trust of students and assure them that protecting privacy is a paramount concern.
5. Social Media and Peer Pressure
Bullying and exclusion have long been issues in schools. However, the ubiquity of social media has exacerbated those problems. Students use social media to stay connected to their friends when they aren’t at school — but that also means they’re connected to their bullies.
It’s easy for an outsider to say that the obvious solution is to stay away from social media. However, social media is a source of validation for many, and it’s not uncommon for students dealing with depression or anxiety to turn to social media for validation instead of professionals for help.
Telling students to stay away from social media is not a realistic solution, but harnessing the power of social media is. By using social media to spread awareness of youth mental health and point students to resources, schools may be able to help improve students’ overall well-being.
It’s also important for students and parents to consider the fact that social media isn’t the only way for youth to form meaningful connections. Involvement in youth sports can benefit students’ mental and social health as can involvement in other activities such as art, drama, or language clubs.
6. Navigating the Mental Health Care System
Sadly, the barriers to mental health treatment for youth aren’t completely dismantled when a student’s parents successfully make an appointment. Understanding insurance coverage can be a challenge, as can ensuring that care is coordinated between each student’s school, family, and outside healthcare professionals.
When it comes to improving the navigability of the mental health care system, it can be difficult to know where to start. Major changes can’t happen overnight, but any step toward making the system easier to access and understand is a step in the right direction.
Meeting Barriers to Youth Mental Health Treatment Head-On
At Rachel’s Challenge, our goal is to help schools, students, and families identify and overcome barriers to mental health treatment for youth. By addressing these obstacles, we can ensure that every young person has access to the mental health care they need to thrive.
Get in touch to book an event at your school or donate to support our life-saving message today.
