According to an analysis by The Cigna Group’s Evernorth Research Institute, the number of young people with mental health conditions has increased 28% since 2018, and the number of young people with at least two mental health diagnoses has risen 48% over the same period.
Inadequate levels of social and emotional functioning are increasingly recognized as central to many public health problems, and more than two out of three children and adolescents experience trauma by age 16.
In the survey of U.S. adults, published last year, a quarter of parents said one or more of their children were experiencing mental health challenges, diagnosed or undiagnosed. The most prevalent conditions, based on the data, are acute stress disorders, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. While more young people are being diagnosed and more are receiving treatment, the data shows gaps, and many youths are not receiving the full spectrum of care.
The Cigna Group Foundation has a long history of impactful nonprofit support , and in 2024 announced a philanthropic and community engagement initiative committing more than $27 million in grants over three years to nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth mental health, improving veteran mental health, and reducing barriers to health equity.
More information on The Cigna Group Foundation’s youth mental health grant program can be found here. Additional information about The Village’s programs can be found here.