Youth & Mental Health Fact Sheet

Youth & Mental Health Fact Sheet

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  Youth & Mental Health Fact Sheet

Coast to Forest Resources

Thank you for exploring our fact sheet series. To learn more about substance use and mental health, check out our other fact sheets. To find local resources, check out the Coast to Forest County-Specific Resource Guides. For a variety of national and state-focused resources, please visit our Helplines & Practical Tools page.

What is Mental Health?

  • Mental health is the combination of emotional, psychological, and social well-being1
  • Mental health challenges can occur at any age, and it is important to be aware of how these challenges may present differently for youth1
  • In the past decade, mental health challenges in youth have significantly increased and the pandemic has only exacerbated this trend1

Facts & Statistics

  • Nationally, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 10–24-year-olds2
  • In 2020, emergency room (ER) visits for mental health challenges increased by 24% for 5–11-year-olds and 30% for 12–17-year-olds2
  • In 2021, Oregon had the highest rate of youth with at least one major depressive episode in the country3
  • In 2021, 14,000 Oregon youth were living with a substance use disorder3

Warning Signs

  • A sudden change in behavior7
  • Decrease in school performance or grades4
  • Changes in sleeping or eating habits4
  • Severe mood swings or anxiety4
  • Use or increased use of substances4
  • Withdrawing or isolating themselves from others4
  • Behaving recklessly, feeling anxious or unsettled, or experiencing extreme mood swings4
  • Changes in sleep schedule or food consumption8
  • Giving away possessions or saying goodbye to family/friends8

Prevention

Prevention is possible.

There are many ways to promote youth mental health. Below is a list of evidence-based ideas for different groups to promote youth mental health.

Youth

  • Ask for help1
  • Support your peers1
  • Get involved with mental health promotion activities in your community1

Family/caregivers

  • Be a positive role model by taking care of your own mental health1
  • Encourage youth to build healthy relationships with peers1
  • Look for warning signs and ask for additional help when needed1

Schools

  • Create a safe learning environment1
  • Implement evidence-based programs focused on mental health1
  • Teach staff how to recognize warning signs and connect students to resources with programs like Youth Mental Health First Aid1
  • Expand evidence-based mental health resources and use trauma-informed practices1

Community organizations

  • Help educate the public about mental health and combat stigma1
  • Implement evidence-based programs that promote mental health1
  • Elevate the voices of youth and their families with efforts like peer support groups or youth advisory councils1

Treatment

Treatment can include:

  • psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy)
  • peer mentoring
  • medication
  • care coordination
  • or any combination of these options6 

Resources For Youth

Teen Line

Peer support for teens. Calls answered from 6 PM -10 PM PST and texts from 6 PM-9 PM PST

800-852-8336 or text "TEEN" to 839863

YouthLine

Crisis and support line that operates 24/7. Peer support is available every day from 4-10 PM PST

877-968-8491 or text "teen2teen" to 839863 or chat at https://oregonyouthline.org/

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Confidential crisis and support service that operates 24/7

988 or 1-800-273-8255 or 1-888-628-9454 (Español)

For teletypewriter (TTY) services: dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255

NAMI Resources

NAMI Resources provides a variety of resources and information including tools for how to start conversations about mental health, how to seek help, and more

Coast to Forest Resource List

A comprehensive list of resources in Oregon, organized by county

Youth Engaged 4 Change

Youth Engaged 4 Change offers ways to become involved in mental health promotion and helpful toolkits

Resources For Parents/Caregivers

What’s On Your Mind

What’s On Your Mind offers guidance on how to talk with youth about mental health, broken down by age group

CDC's Children’s Mental Health

Children’s Mental Health, created by the CDC, contains resources focused on helping families support youth.

InsureKidsNow

InsureKidsNow provides information about how to enroll youth in health insurance to improve access to mental health services

Resources For Schools & Communities

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid offers training on how to identify and respond to a youth mental health crisis.

National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH)

The National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) has compiled resources for schools including a variety of toolkits and guides.

StopBullying

StopBullying provides information about bullying, bullying prevention, and other related resources

The Community Guide on Mental Health

The Community Guide on Mental Health is a collection of evidence-based practices for community level mental health promotion.

Sources of Strength

Sources of Strength is an evidence-based program that uses peer support to help reduce suicide

References

  1. Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory
  2. FACT SHEET: Improving Access and Care for Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions
  3. The State of Mental Health in America: 2021
  4. Mental Health: Warning Signs
  5. Youth Mental Health
  6. Treatment Options for Youth with Mental Health Disorders
  7. Warning Signs of Suicide

Acknowledgments

This fact sheet was developed by the Oregon State University Coast to Forest team, a collaboration of the College of Health, OSU Center for Health Innovation and OSU Extension Service Family & Community Health program. We would like to thank the H 310 Health Field Experience students for their contributions.

For more information and to explore local resources, check out the Coast to Forest County-Specific Resource Guides.