AspctStyle/mental health
By Kristin McGuire
Executive Director, Young Invincibles
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Over the last few years, we have seen alarming signs that young people are in the midst of a mental health crisis. Following several years of societal, political, economic, and health disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic, young people are emerging with high levels of mental health conditions, as well as feeling depressed, anxious, or lonely. Headline after headline talk about the mental health crisis in young adults.
One-third of young adults ages 18-25 have a mental illness, the highest level of any U.S. adults. Adults ages 18 to 25 are nearly twice as likely as teenagers to suffer from anxiety and depression. In addition, 58% of young adults said they lacked "meaning or purpose in their lives." We cannot continue with business as usual with this kind of mental health crisis for young adults. We need change.
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As the head of an organization that works on policy advocacy for young adults, I knew we had to make a change, too. We have decided to continue our advocacy efforts regarding mental health and make it our major focus for 2024. We will work to tackle this issue from a number of angles within health care, higher education, and the workforce because mental health is a part of every aspect of our lives.
Our first major focus will be changing policy to make mental health accessible and affordable. According to the White House issue brief in 2022, 46% of Americans reported that they could not afford the cost of mental health services, and 19% stated that their health insurance did not fully cover their mental health services.
It's time for health insurers to cover mental health care like any other type of health care. Mental health care should be considered preventive health, like a physical at a primary care provider. Restructuring cost-sharing and co-pay under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) so that all private insurance plans cover at least the first three mental health visits at no extra cost. Three visits will not solve every problem, but it can encourage young people to give treatment a chance and to look for a provider that is a good match.
Finding a provider that is a good match is such an important part of mental health treatment, which is why increasing the number and diversity of providers is our next big policy priority. According to the American Psychological Association, Latine psychologists make up only 8% of the U.S. psychology workforce, followed by Black or African American (5%) and Asian (3%). In comparison, White psychologists make up the majority of the U.S. psychology workforce with nearly 81% in 2021.
We must address this equity gap which is harming young people of color. We propose establishing a scholarship and expanded loan repayment program under the Health Services and Resource Administration (HRSA) for mental health providers, including undergraduate students, committed to pursuing careers in behavioral health, such as becoming licensed family counselors.
Lastly, we must address the mental health crisis on college campuses. In a recent American College Health Association study, researchers found that nearly 75% of college students reported moderate or severe psychological distress. We will push to expand a program called the Healthy Minds Checklist we helped to implement in Colorado, which distinguishes colleges and universities that meet certain standards for on-campus mental health services and resources. We propose to create a federal designation for Healthy Minds campusesand attach federal funding for colleges and universities that meet the designation.
These policies would be a game changer for young adult mental health and we can't afford to wait any longer to make these changes. We need all the voices we can to join our campaign and help push for these policy priorities. It's time that our legislators hear just how big this crisis is and that we expect action.
While we know policy change will be central to this effort, it's not the only thing we should do right now. It's time to be open and vocal about mental health. To share our own stories and listen to others. The more we speak up, the more the stigma around mental health breaks down.
It's also important to create a culture that encourages healthy minds; checking in on friends and family, even the "strong" ones, avoiding judgemental and harmful language around mental health and encouraging others to be proactive around seeking treatment.
If you are an employer or leader, set up mental health days for employees and allow for flexible scheduling around therapy or other treatment. At my organization, Young Invincibles, we have set up Mental Health Mondays, where we shut down for a paid day off, and also have set up an Employee Assistance Program which can provide resources, referrals, and free sessions with a counselor.
If you are still looking for a New Year's resolution this year, make 2024 your year of talking about mental health — and pushing for action. Go ahead and schedule that therapy session, too.
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