A statewide series of listening sessions and a spring summit aimed at exploring the issues impacting the mental health of youth throughout New York State have been announced. According to the Governor’s Office, these initiatives will build on her $1 billion plan to overhaul New York State’s mental health continuum of care and provide an opportunity for experts to advise state leaders on future policy recommendations to improve youth wellness.
“As New York State’s first female governor and the only mother to hold this office, I’m deeply disturbed by recent reports on instances of teen depression – especially following the isolation and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “It’s time we put the mental well-being of our youth at the forefront and listen to what they’re going through to gain a deeper understanding of this issue and meaningfully address the problems young New Yorkers face.”
Coordinated by the state Office of Mental Health and the Office of Children and Family Services, the listening sessions are expected to be scheduled throughout the state this Spring. Each session will be moderated by representatives from these agencies and will involve a cross-section of school-age youth from each host community.
Governor Hochul will also convene a Summit on Youth Mental Health and Wellness in May, coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Month. The summit will bring together youth and parents with a broad array of subject experts from the mental health, education, technology, and law enforcement fields to discuss the challenges and opportunities impacting the well-being of our youth, including the role social media plays in their lives.
Last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued its Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which found alarming mental health trends among school-aged youth between 2011 and 2021 – especially among teen girls. Nearly a third of teen girls seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, an increase from 19 percent the prior decade; about three in five felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, which was twice the rate of teen boys and represents a nearly 60 percent increase over the rate recorded in 2011.
The report also found that youth from marginalized populations are more likely to suffer mental health issues: More than half of LGBTQ+ students expressed having poor mental health, with one in five reporting having attempted suicide in the past year. Suicide attempts were also elevated among Black youth when compared to White youth, according to the report.
