Young people are the experts in creating their path
toward mental health and wellness.
Youth mental health
Did you know ...
nearly 50% of all mental health conditions have their onset by the age of 14
75% of mental health conditions have their onset by age 24
Before the COVID-19 pandemic ...
roughly 1 in 5 young people worldwide was living with a mental health condition
suicide was the third leading cause of death for teens between the ages of 15 and 19
Since the pandemic ...
Symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions have increased dramatically.
Young people are struggling with worries about school, work, making a future.
They are anxious, sad, fearful, and worried, and they lack control over allocation of available resources.
What does this mean?
Young people are at risk of full-blown disorders that disrupt their ability to successfully manage relationships, school, and work as they move into adulthood.
What do young people need?
Young people are telling us that they want support around their mental health and wellness.
Globally, they are forming networks and alliances to advocate for change. To do this work effectively, they need tools to support their mental health and wellbeing.
We have learned from them that to create supports that meet their needs, they need to be at the table to help design those supports.
What is Circles of Connection & Resilience doing?
Circles support young people in developing the skills they need to create their own paths toward mental health and wellbeing.
Mental health is more than the absence of disease!
It includes:
emotional wellbeing
being able to navigate life challenges
coping mechanisms
absence of discrimination
skills to navigate different environments and relationships
Global mental health
According to the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted or, in some cases, halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide, while the demand for mental health is increasing. Given the chronic nature of the disease, this translates into a significant economic impact worldwide. Countries spend less than 2% of their health budgets on mental health. It is expected that in the next ten years, depression will put more burden on nations than any other disease.