The Youth & Young Adult Mental Health Crisis: What it Means & How We Can Help

Every day, more teens, college students, and young adults are feeling stressed, sad, or anxious. These feelings are not just “part of growing up.” They are signs that many young people need more help than ever before. At Aspire Counseling, we believe no one should have to face this alone.

What’s Going On: The Facts

Here are some numbers that help show how big the problem is:

• Around 41% of college students report symptoms of anxiety. (Transforming Education for People)

• About 44% of college students say they’ve felt depressed. (Transforming Education for People)

• In one large study of over 84,000 college students, severe depression dropped from 23% in 2022 to 18% in 2024-25, and thoughts of suicide dropped too. (sph.umich.edu)

Even though some things are improving, the numbers are still high. They show lots of students are hurting—and many are trying to handle it on their own.

Why Youth Mental Health Is Struggling

Young people today have a lot more pressures than before. A few of them are:

• Social media: seeing perfect lives online can make someone feel like they don't measure up.

• School stress: lots of work, worry about getting good grades, or worrying about what comes after school.

• World stress: worries about things like climate change, inflation, or conflicts far away can weigh heavily.

• Less free time: many kids and students have jam-packed schedules, with less space to rest or process their emotions.

These pressures build up. Without support, they lead to anxiety disorders, depression, or other mental health problems.

Signs Something’s Wrong

How do you know when these pressures are becoming a crisis? Some signs include:

• Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless most days

• Worrying a lot, especially about things that haven’t even happened

• Trouble sleeping, or sleeping too much

• Loss of interest in things they used to like

• Thinking harmful thoughts, or feeling like life isn’t worth it

If you see these signs in a teen, college student, or young adult, it’s important to reach out. Even small things—talking, letting them know you care, getting professional support—can make a big difference.

What We Can Do: Hope & Help

Good news: evidence-based treatments work. These are not guesses. They are therapy styles that research shows help people feel better. Here are some of them:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people notice and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is especially good for OCD, where you face fears without doing the compulsions, to learn anxiety goes down. (Read more in “What is ERP? An Introduction to Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy” on our site.)

• Trauma-informed therapies, including EMDR or CPT, help when past hurt or scary events are affecting how someone feels now.

We at Aspire Counseling try to provide a safe space and use these kinds of treatments. We also believe in:

• Listening closely to what each person has gone through

• Helping young people build skills for managing stress, fear, or worry

• Working with families when it helps

Where to Find Support Right Now

If you or someone you care about is struggling, here are some steps to consider:

1. Talk to someone you trust – a parent, friend, teacher, or mentor. It helps to let someone else know what’s going on.

2. Reach out for professional help – therapists are trained to help. At Aspire Counseling, we work with teens and adults in our Columbia and Lee’s Summit offices, and also online in Missouri.

3. Use coping tools – breathing exercises, journaling, walks, or anything that brings calm can help start.

4. Stay connected – being alone can make things feel worse. Friends, family, clubs, or groups can provide support and comfort.

If you want to read more about related topics, you may like these Aspire Counseling blog posts:

• Signs Your Teen Has Anxiety And What You Can Do About It

• Understanding OCD: Symptoms, Causes, and Effective Treatments

• What Are 5 Coping Skills for Anxiety? Relief Options for Teens

• When OCD & Trauma Overlap

Why It Matters & What Aspires to Do

We believe mental health in youth is not just a “phase.” It affects school, friendships, family, physical health, and even future dreams. When young people get help early, they can heal, grow, and build stronger lives.

At Aspire Counseling, our goal is to help with kindness, skill, and evidence-based care. We see you. We want you to feel heard. You don’t have to go this path alone.

If this post resonated with you, reach out. Talk to us about therapy, or even just about what you’re feeling. You are important. You matter. You deserve support—and relief is possible.

About Aspire Counseling

Aspire Counseling is a Missouri-based group practice serving teens, college students, and adults from offices in Columbia and Lee’s Summit, with online therapy across Missouri. Our team specializes in evidence-based care for trauma, anxiety, and OCD—including ERP for OCD, EMDR, CPT, TF-CBT, and IFS-informed approaches. We’re private pay and help clients use out-of-network benefits (via tools like Thrizer) to make therapy more accessible. Care is trauma-informed, practical, and collaborative. New to therapy? Our Client Care Coordinator can schedule a free 30-minute consult to help you find the right fit.

About the Author

Jessica Tappana, founder and director of Aspire Counseling, is a therapist and group practice owner in Missouri. Jessica leads a team committed to warm, research-backed care for youth and adults. She writes about practical, evidence-based strategies to help families navigate anxiety, OCD, and trauma—always with clear next steps and a compassionate tone.