Across the United States, poor mental health is a key public health crisis that continues to afflict numerous Americans. Adolescents or young adults are especially vulnerable to this prominent public health issue.

• Among individuals aged between 10 and 24 years, young adults account for roughly 15% of all suicides. When comparing this figure to trends since the year 2000, suicides have increased by 52% among the American youth population. 

• In the period preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness reported among American adolescents increased by approximately 40%. Eventually, this statistic only became exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

• In 2023, it was reported that two in five adolescents experienced challenges in combatting continual feelings of sadness and hopelessness.

In addition to these metrics, mental distress has also been connected with the heightened usage of drugs and alcohol. In many cases, the utilization of these substances to maladaptively cope with poor mental health has led to additional deaths with long-lasting social, emotional, and economic repercussions for the afflicted families and communities of the deceased.

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/about/what-cdc-is-doing.html

Given the public health significance of deteriorated mental health, as part of the GSEH Mental Health Wellness Campaign, GSE Health Services is hosting a virtual webinar series centered around improving mental wellness among adolescent individuals aged between 18-25.