BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Youth Ranch is proud to announce the launch of Leading Edge for Youth, a premier online community for youth mental health advocates and professionals. This new community is designed to inform, support, and celebrate the incredible people working to support the mental and behavioral health of youth – so the workforce stays strong as the needs of youth continue to rise dramatically.
Leading Edge for Youth is an online community for professionals and advocates helping youth with mental and behavioral health challenges in Idaho and around the country. The community provides exclusive content about mental health therapy, useful resources on the challenges mental and behavioral health professionals face, residential care best practices, the latest on trauma-informed care, and an interactive message board for members to share experiences and gain insights from each other. In addition, there are webinars designed to equip, encourage, and support those working on the front lines providing for the mental and behavioral health needs of youth.
According to Scott Curtis, CEO of Idaho Youth Ranch, “Leading Edge for Youth reflects our commitment to revolutionizing mental health services for youth. It is a platform to bring together individuals from across the country to rally behind the needs of youth at a time when youth mental health is at crisis levels. It is essential that we take action to support existing providers and ensure they remain in the field to address the growing mental health needs of our communities. We believe that our online community can make a difference, and we invite professionals and advocates in this space to join us.”
Young people in Idaho and the United States are struggling with their mental health, as shocking statistics reveal that over 60% of children with depression don’t receive any mental health treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report in February 2023 revealing that the mental health crisis among teenagers, particularly girls, is reaching new heights. The report found that in 2021, 57% of high school girls experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, up from 36% in 2011. Even more alarming, 30% of the girls surveyed reported seriously considering suicide, and 13% attempted suicide one or more times in 2021.
In Idaho, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation are growing substantially among youth. In 2021, the percentage of Idaho high school students who felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more increased significantly to 44.8% from 27.3% in 2011. Additionally, the percentage of students who intentionally hurt themselves without wanting to die increased by 40%, from 17.5% in 2011 to 27.9% in 2021. The percentage of students who seriously considered attempting suicide also saw a significant increase, rising from 15.4% in 2011 to 21.3% in 2021. These numbers highlight the need for increased mental health resources and support for young people in Idaho (https://www.youthranch.org/teencounseling) and across the country.
The increasing demand for mental health treatment, coupled with the national shortage of mental health professionals, is placing considerable pressure on the mental health community. With an overwhelming number of providers unable to accept new patients or maintain waitlists due to the excessive volume of requests, this critical situation is expected to worsen in the coming years.
“This unique platform was designed to provide support and development opportunities for our own youth mental health care employees, and also to fill a gap in the community,” stated Amy Evans, VP of Programs at Idaho Youth Ranch. “We aim to unite professionals in this space to share their knowledge and expertise and to collaborate on ways to improve outcomes for youth with mental and behavioral health challenges.”
“Leading Edge for Youth is an incredibly vibrant community,” stated Camille Andersen, Chief People Officer with Idaho Youth Ranch, “It’s very interactive. We want to hear everyone’s ideas and feedback on how to make the community more useful, and welcome article and blog submissions from our members.”
Leading Edge for Youth is open to all youth mental health professionals, advocates, and supporters. New content is posted every week. Together, we can provide healing and hope for our kids.
To join the community, visit leadingedgeforyouth.org and sign up today. The community is free, but registration is required.
ABOUT IDAHO YOUTH RANCH:
Idaho Youth Ranch is a nonprofit organization that unites for Idaho’s youth by providing accessible programs and services that nurture hope, healing, and resilience. Idaho Youth Ranch offers emergency shelter, residential care, youth and family therapy, job readiness training, adoption services, and more for kids and their families. We also operate a network of thrift stores that serve as workforce development locations, allow the public to support our mission, and help fund our youth programs and services. Learn more at www.youthranch.org.
Media Contact
Company Name: Idaho Youth Ranch
Contact Person: Jeff Myers, VP of Communications, Idaho Youth Ranch
Email: Send Email
Phone: 208-936-5608
City: BOISE
State: Idaho
Country: United States
Website: https://www.youthranch.org/