Opinion
Upset problem child with head in hands sitting on staircase concept for childhood bullying, depression stress or frustration
by
STEVE BULLOCK posted 05.08.2026
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OPINION – Youth mental health is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Although we have made immense progress, from normalizing conversations about mental health to increasing investments in care, it’s clear we have a ways to go. According to Mental Health America, around 17 percent of young people (representing more than 500,000 kids) in California have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year.
In Sacramento, I recently had the opportunity to exchange learnings from my work on youth mental health issues in Montana with advocates leading the charge in California. At a half day summit hosted by the Coalition the Empower our Future, an organization I help lead, advocates, organizations, policymakers and students came together to help answer the question, “what is driving this complex challenge, and how do we solve it together?” The diverse perspectives in the room included former Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, the YMCA of San Diego, California Coalition for the Youth and young people with personal experiences that they’re using to propel change.
What emerged from the roundtable was consensus that our kids need a range of support to address the many factors that are impacting their wellbeing, coupled with concern about the pace of change and ability to drive impact compared to the amount of resources. Thoughtful looks at programs that offer promise and resounding consensus around the urgency of empowering young people in both the debate and the solutions were also center focus.
It’s worth noting that while California has room to improve, its efforts to address youth mental health can be a model for other states. California scaled up its investment in youth mental health services, including through the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative – which mobilized nearly $5 billion to improve services for young people.
But even with this investment, far too many children are still falling through the cracks. Improving youth mental health means addressing the many factors impacting kids’ wellbeing – whether it be food insecurity, homelessness, social isolation, academic or peer pressures, overuse of devices, instability at home and all the rest.
Another takeaway from our conversation was that even when funding for youth mental health services is available, it’s often delayed or too difficult to access. Polling shows that six-in-10 voters and parents in California wouldn’t know where to go in their community to access mental health support for a young person in crisis. This means working to ensure services are reaching people in a timely manner, and investing in the non-profits, community organizations and school-based resources that can help round out a continuum of support for young people who are struggling.
Investing in peer-to-peer support and youth mentorship, creating spaces for young people to be young people, and expanding opportunities for after-school programs can all help. It’s a reminder that while government and clinical supports are critical, sometimes what a kid needs most is as simple as a friendly face and a welcoming environment.
The depth of this challenge can be discouraging, but there is reason for hope. As someone who has been thinking about this issue for decades as both a public service and a parent, it’s clear that one of our greatest assets is our young people. Gen Z, despite facing a unique set of challenges, is uniquely adept at using its voice and questioning the status quo. It will take all of us to tackle the issue of youth mental health, and we need to support and empower young people as we work toward comprehensive and lasting solutions that will endure for generations to come.
Steve Bullock served as the 24th Governor of Montana.
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