In an era of heightened academic pressure, social media obsession, and a country overwrought with news about school shootings, increased crime, war, and ongoing political tensions, teenage mental health activists throughout the U.S. are demanding change, particularly more resources and support for their mental health. While Dr. Vivek Murthy is practically eponymous with the “youth mental health crisis,” having dubbed it the “crisis of our time” in October 2022, it is the teenagers themselves who are banding together to shine a light on what is going on in their hearts and minds, in school, at home, and on the all-too-controversial social media platforms. In other words, our teens “get it” and might outpace the adults in championing their cause.
As the pandemic wound down, parents and educators were hopeful that in time, the long-term effects of isolation, loneliness, and fear brought on by COVID-19 would subside and simply “going back to school” and being amongst their peers would alleviate some of the alarmingly high numbers we were seeing of youth with mental health challenges. Sadly, that has not been the case. According to data compiled by Mental Health America, over 1 in 10 youth in the U.S. are experiencing depression that is severely impairing their ability to function at school or work, at home, with family, or in their social life. 16.39% of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode in the past year. 11.5% of youth (over 2.7 million) are experiencing severe major depression. Furthermore, 59.8% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment, only 28% of youth with severe depression receive some consistent treatment (7-25+ visits in a year), and most youth (57.3%) with severe depression do not receive any care at all.
Where mental health care is available, inadequate insurance coverage continues to loom large since nationally, 1 in 10 youth who are covered under private insurance do not have coverage for mental or emotional difficulties – totaling over 1.2 million youth. Additionally, scheduling challenges continue to trouble patients seeking care. Long wait times for appointments to see a mental health professional are an issue, as is locating a clinician taking new patients in an area within a reasonable distance from the patient’s location. APA’s 2022 COVID-19 Practitioner Impact Survey discovered that 60% of psychologists were not taking new patients, and over 40% had long wait lists.
Teenage Activists Taking a Stand
Teenagers leading the charge for change is nothing new. Greta Thunberg, a global climate activist, was just 15 when she organized her first school strike for climate change. Malala Yousafzai, at 17, became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize 2014 for her bravery in standing up against the Taliban. Emma Gonzalez, 19, a key organizer of the March For Our Lives movement was among the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who survived the shooting there in February of 2018 and since then, she’s been a strong advocate for gun reform and gun control.
Teenagers should not be underestimated in their ability to fight for and enact change. Today’s teenagers are taking a stand against legislators and educators, even at their young age, by calling out the woeful lack of response of legislators and educators to the youth mental health crisis. In the fight for their mental well-being, numerous teen activists have lobbied for legislation, organized marches and protests, formed coalitions, and launched companies to support their growing need for mental health services.
In recognition of World Teen Mental Wellness Day, here are five young standouts from the past few years:
Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School
After being given an assignment in an 11th-grade civic action class, three teenagers at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Schools in South Hadley, Massachusetts, began to lobby for Bill S.346, a law that would provide for at least one mental health professional per 250 students in all K-12 schools. According to history teacher Gary Huggett, these students wanted to contribute to the mental wellness issues they were seeing amongst their peers in the classroom including anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges. “They all had somewhat personal stakes that drew them to the topic, so they thought, ‘What can we do to address mental health awareness in schools that will actually live beyond our little project?'” Huggett said.
Other schools in the area, including Chicopee Public Schools in western Massachusetts, agreed that several of their students were struggling with mental health challenges. Director of Social and Emotional Learning, Abbey Tenczar, said “We saw an increase even before the pandemic, and after the pandemic, we’ve seen even more. We’ve seen a lot of anxiety and depression, some substance use disorders as well. Eating disorders are also common.”
The teenagers proactively spoke with their local representatives about the issue. Senator Rausch of Massachusetts told one news outlet that a joint education committee is overseeing the bill and will vote next month on whether it will continue to study or vote favorably out of committee and onto the next step in the process. As the March 15 vote nears, these student activists should be proud of their hard work, knowing their passion and commitment toward improving the mental health of teenagers will not go unnoticed.
Zamaan Qureshi, Founder, Design It For Us
As a junior at American University, Zamaan Qureshi was not surprised when lawmakers began to explore whether or not social media was harming children in 2021. He’d seen firsthand the impact social media, particularly platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, had on his friends already struggling with anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges.
When Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen released documents linking Instagram to mental health challenges in teens and the topic began making national headlines, he was disappointed that his generation, the group he felt was closest to the problem, wasn’t pulled into the conversation. He decided to change that and, along with a group of like-minded students, launched Design It For Us, an advocacy group that gives young people a voice in the conversation surrounding online safety.
“We want to be seen as meaningful collaborators, and not just a token seat at the table,” Qureshi said.
In Washington, D.C., Design It For Us has participated in multiple meetings with House and Senate leaders. In February 2023, the group testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Ahmad Nisar, Founder, ChangeMaker
Ahmad Nisar, a mental health activist from Afghanistan, founded Changemaker, an organization that speaks to youth mental health issues.
Changemaker’s work helps young people learn to integrate communication skills and mental well-being into their daily lives. Ahmad continues to fight for mental health solutions for youth at high-profile organizations, including Amnesty International and Challenges Canada/WEF, aided by his experience as a researcher and author.
Elif Kaya, Founder, One Smile Effect
Elif Kaya is another teenage mental health activist who has used her own experience with mental health issues to drive her life’s mission. Her battles with anxiety and even a survived suicide attempt at 15 led her to start One Smile Effect, a mental health organization that started in Turkey but has now grown to more than 100 volunteers in 60 countries. One Smile Effect focuses on ensuring appropriate mental health supports are available to young people worldwide.
Kaya is a busy teenager. An in-demand speaker, she has been invited to speak at TEDx and the Digital4Good Podcast, and she is also the creator and host of the I’mPossible Podcast, which shares stories of teen mental health challenges. She was a 2023 Healthcare Collaborator Finalist, named a 2021 Global Teen Leader, and the winner of the 2020 Digital4Good contest.
“My journey in advocating for mental health and social justice is deeply rooted in my personal experiences,” said Kaya. “As someone who has struggled with her mental health, I have firsthand experience with mental health stigma and the lack of access to care. I have seen how it affects individuals and communities. My vision revolves around developing and expanding community-based mental health initiatives in underserved regions globally, with Turkey as my starting point.”
Kaya funded her organization through YouTube tutorials, with “zero financial resources or influential connections.” She has built her network of teenage activists from all over the world, who have played a large role in her organization’s impact. “The success of OSE is a testament to the boundless possibilities that the digital age offers for connecting and learning from others in your field, regardless of where you reside, your age, or experience,” she says.
Jimin Lee, Founder, SELFidence
Jimin Lee was just 13 when she became a mental health activist by founding SELFidence in South Korea. The non-profit raises awareness about the importance of self-confidence and mental health in youth. Lee started her effort by posting short infographics on social media to highlight topics such as toxic productivity and the harms of social media.
To maximize their reach (including over 100,000 youth), the organization uses social media to share more than 150+ educational resources.
Lee’s first research paper, about TikTok and mental health misinformation, has garnered several accolades, including a gold medal for outstanding academic paper and publication on the Harvard International Review website and in the Journal of Student Research.
“Entering online high school and getting too immersed in social media during the early days of the pandemic, I realized the importance of believing in yourself,” Lee said in an exclusive interview. “The education system and digital space tend to highlight the numbers (be it class rank, test scores, followers, or likes), rather than the person. As a result, many students struggle to realize that they are worthy. You belong in this world. This is what inspired me to found SELFidence.”
Final Thoughts
It’s important to acknowledge the substantial impact the voice of our youth can have in driving meaningful change. Data is essential, but we can only learn what is happening in their lives by empowering our teenagers with information, education, and permission to speak their truth. As our future leaders, these teenage activists are setting the tone for the future of mental health. A future that should include the mental health resources and services they need and deserve.
