Addressing Youth Mental Health Needs from the Inside Out
Our Mission: To catalyze new models for supporting youth living with mental health challenges, helping them grow and find strength in their lived experiences.
Today’s Growing Youth Mental Health Crisis
The path to adulthood is different for every young person, but today’s youth are facing unprecedented and uniquely hard to navigate challenges. Research shows an alarming increase in the prevalence of youth mental health challenges and a critical shortage of resources and support. One in five youth will experience a mental health disorder this year, yet nearly half of those impacted will be unable to access the support they need to navigate and thrive beyond their condition.
Helping Youth Grow and Find Strength in their Lived Experiences
One in Five addresses the youth mental health crisis from the inside out — empowering youth and equipping them with critical knowledge and skills to both understand their own challenges and serve as inspiration and mentors to others. Our unique approach recognizes that all individuals, youth in particular, have important voices and perspectives to share.
Peer-Powered Youth Mental Health Support Models
Peer support – when individuals who have experienced mental health challenges and recovery assist others - offers a level of connection, acceptance and understanding shaped by shared lived experiences. Research suggests that peer support can lead to increased engagement in treatment, social functioning and quality of life. Our peer-support programs are designed in close partnership with youth and rooted in a core belief that all youth are strong, resilient and capable of thriving beyond their condition.
External evaluation of One in Five’s peer mentoring program focused on qualitative impacts and the unique benefits yielded by the program for youth, educators and school administrators. The initial study showed positive results with participants crediting the program with helping them learn how to better navigate their emotions so they can have more positive reactions and behaviors in stressful situations. School staff reported seeing growth in both the mentors and the mentees and believe the program had a positive impact in the school.
