Youth in Distress: Finding Connection That Works |
What Changes During Adolescence?
Find a therapist to support kids and teens
Youth distress is rising, but current systems can’t keep pace with youth's growing mental health needs.
Early connection to trusted people is critical before issues escalate or gaps are filled with untested tech.
Youth peer support is an evidence-based solution that offers relational, non-clinical support for adolescents.
Peer support meets youth where they are, improving youth mental health outcomes and reducing high-cost care.
As a licensed clinical psychologist and Yale professor specializing in child and adolescent populations, I have a deep perspective on the innovative thinking and solutioning needed to address the mental health challenges facing youth today.
Mounting youth distress is met with a mental health system unable to keep pace with the need, and continues to climb in the context of a changing world. Connecting youth to trusted support early, before issues escalate to a crisis and before GenAI chatbots try to fill in the gaps, must be a priority.
Luckily, the solutions needed to support youth mental well-being, address early signs of distress, and reconnect youth with trusted communities are within reach. They do not rely on some futuristic, not-yet-realized technology revolution. Instead, they bring us back to basics by prioritizing authentic human connection and relationships and building hope. However, youth and families need to know about them, and creative thinking, strategy, and support are needed to realize their full impact.
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