The concerning decline in the mental health of American teenagers is a widely recognized issue, with approximately 15 percent of middle and high school students having experienced a major depressive episode in the past year, and a staggering 37 percent reporting persistent feelings of sadness, as indicated by national data.
This worrying trend is not confined to a specific region; it’s becoming increasingly prevalent in northern Michigan. Dave Mengebier, the President and CEO of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation (GTRCF), which serves Antrim, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Benzie counties, is deeply aware of the situation. The GTRCF, with its mission to enhance the quality of life in these communities, has been dedicated to addressing youth issues for the past 31 years. Mengebier acknowledges the severity of the crisis, stating, “We were aware from all the work that we do in this space that we had really reached crisis proportions.”
Addressing a crisis of this magnitude requires expertise, but alongside peer-reviewed research and best practices, there is a need for insights from the very individuals affected the most – teenagers themselves. Mengebier shares the foundation’s approach, saying, “We wanted high school students to really take on that leadership role and ask their peers what’s causing their anxieties, stress, and depression, and where they turn to alleviate those things.”
Introducing the Youth Wellness Initiative (YWI), a program hosted by GTRCF and financially supported by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. The primary goal of this initiative is to identify the root causes of mental health challenges in local adolescents and utilize these findings to inform the development of available resources and community planning.
By engaging the voices of the youth, the YWI program aims to create a better understanding of the issues plaguing local teens and, ultimately, to provide effective solutions. For more information about this initiative and additional stories concerning local mental health challenges, you can explore this week’s edition of the Northern Express, accessible online or at various newsstands located in nearly 700 spots across 14 counties in northern Michigan.
