Preventive care is proactive care: Supporting youth mental health in Georgia

By the Co-Chairs of the Mental Health Funders Collaborative (MHFC)

It’s an increasingly difficult time to be young in America. Mental health challenges among children and teens are skyrocketing, and Georgia is no exception. According to the CDC, in 2021, 42% of young people experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness—a figure that has doubled over the past decade. Closer to home, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has seen a doubling of emergency visits for behavioral crises since 2015. This issue is not limited to urban centers or specific populations. Rural communities in Georgia face especially stark challenges, with limited access to pediatric mental health services. Meanwhile, Black youth are experiencing the fastest rising rates of suicide among any racial or ethnic group.

These numbers don’t tell the whole story. Children today aren’t twice as “pathological” as they were a decade ago. The increase in mental health struggles reflects the growing pressures and adversities kids face – like economic instability, trauma and lack of access to basic needs like stable housing or healthy food. Mental health isn’t just about treating illness; it’s about creating environments that support healthy development and address these root causes before they manifest as crises.

The Mental Health Funders Collaborative (MHFC), in partnership with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta (Foundation), is a network of philanthropic organizations dedicated to improving youth mental health across Georgia. Our members fund initiatives to expand access to care, strengthen the mental health workforce and tackle the systemic challenges facing children and families. Together, we are working to ensure that mental health is treated as an integral part of overall health and development. Over the last year, the MHFC has worked with nonprofit and public leaders to identify ways to collectively support the health and wellbeing of Georgia’s kids. The following imperatives are based on listening to those on the front lines and seizing opportunities for concrete action.  

To address the youth mental health crisis, we must listen to the voices of young people. Too often, they are left out of the conversations about the very programs meant to support them. Youth are not just participants—they are experts in their own lives. Their experiences and insights can shape effective solutions, and we cannot afford to ignore them.

Act boldly for lasting change

Georgia has made strides in supporting youth mental health, with the passage of the Mental Health Parity Act (HB1013), the launch of the 988 crisis hotline, and expanded school-based health services. But much more needs to be done. Preventative care is proactive care – meaning we can ensure that children receive the care they need before reaching a point of crisis. Here’s how:

1. Broaden access to mental health care: Tie eligibility for mental health services to social factors like housing instability or trauma, not just clinical diagnoses.
2. Bring care to where families are: Schools, pediatric clinics and community centers are places where families feel comfortable. Mental health support should be available in these familiar environments, not just in clinical settings.
3. Strengthen the mental health workforce: Georgia needs more mental health professionals. This involves investing in their training, simplifying certification and improving long-term funding. Expanding who can deliver care – beyond therapists and psychiatrists to include school social workers, community health workers and behavioral health technicians – can also increase access.
4. Hold health plans accountable: Managed care organizations must deliver on their promise to provide mental health benefits for children. We need transparency through timely data sharing to coordinate care and hold these organizations accountable. 
5. Maximize federal funding: Leveraging federal matching funds and holding managed care organizations to higher standards will help expand mental health services statewide.

Mental health is health, and it’s about more than diagnosing and treating illness. It’s about addressing the conditions that shape a child’s overall wellbeing. Stable housing, access to nutritious food, safe communities, and supportive relationships all play a critical role in mental and physical health. By focusing on these social determinants and taking proactive steps, we can ensure a healthier, more resilient future for Georgia’s youth.

The time for bold action is now. Policymakers, healthcare providers, educators, businesses, and communities must come together to create environments where our children can thrive, not just survive.

To move from awareness to action, here are some steps you can take to support youth mental health in Georgia. Whether you’re a parent, advocate, employer, or community member, your involvement can make a difference:

Learn more: Explore child and adolescent youth mental health issues through organizations like Resilient Georgia, Strong4Life of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (available in Spanish), and GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students.

Engage with legislators: Talk to your elected officials about supporting bold actions for mental health care in Georgia. Find your legislator to start the conversation. You can also join with policy leaders like Georgians for a Healthy Future.

Ask your pediatrician and school: Discuss how they support the “whole child,” addressing both physical and mental health needs. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) promotes healthy mental development. Schools are integrating mental health services through programs like APEX and School-Based Health Centers. 

Get trauma-aware training: Consider programs like Connections Matter Georgia Training.

Support your employees and their families: Learn about proactive employer strategies that improve wellbeing and your bottom line. Provide flexible hours, dependent care and accessible mental health resources for young workers and parents. mployer strategies that improve wellbeing and your bottom line. Provide flexible hours, dependent care and accessible mental health resources for young workers and parents. 

This is sponsored content.