PA Teen Mental Health Coalition

The 2023 Pennsylvania Youth Survey indicates that 37.3% of 6th to 12th graders in Pennsylvania felt sad or depressed most days in the past 12 months, and 16.1% seriously considered suicide. The reported cases of suicidal ideation and self-harm among teenagers underscore the urgency of addressing mental health issues in this demographic. At a time when teenagers are in dire need of connection and care, 27.9% indicate that they have no one to talk to when sad, lonely or worried.

In light of increasing challenges and limited funding for the critical services that can help to support teens, a new coalition has formed to advocate for sustainable, statewide investment in teen mental health.

The PA Teen Mental Health Coalition aims to bring together community-based organizations (CBOs) and partners across Pennsylvania to advocate for policies and funding to support CBOs in providing teen mental health prevention and early intervention services.

Services Provided by Teen Safe Spaces

Brief Intervention

CBOs offer brief intervention and support for teens needing help navigating transitions, relationships, academic pressures, and early signs and symptoms of mental health needs.

Care Management

CBOs connect teens and families to resources addressing social determinants of health, such as food, housing, utilities, transportation, and medical care, while collaborating with healthcare providers, schools, and juvenile justice systems to support navigation and engagement.

Counseling Services

Many CBOs offer on-site individual, group, and family therapy, often available on a drop-in basis and co-located with afterschool programs. Providing counseling in trusted community spaces helps reduce mental health stigma. These services are often covered by CBOs, though some bill insurance, including Medicaid.

Early Intervention Services

In addition to evidence-based social-emotional learning, CBOs provide safe spaces for building skills in stress management, meditation, and self-care. They offer trauma-informed services, art therapy, restorative practices, and grief support, serving as protective factors that help teens cope with future stressors while strengthening interpersonal and communication skills.

Health Education, Promotion, and Skills Development

These services enhance the education students receive in school and other youth-serving systems. They include evidence-based emotional learning programs that support identity development, confidence building, belonging, and healing from generational trauma. Youth build skills in stress management, self-care, healthy relationships, problem solving, conflict resolution, goal setting, time management, leadership, and communication, with opportunities to apply them through service-learning projects and coaching support.

Mentoring and Career Pathways Development

Teens build trusted relationships with caring adults through mentorship, career coaching, and specialty programs. CBOs provide one-on-one mentoring, STEAM education, internships, and career pathway development that align skills and interests with potential careers. These programs also promote positive mental health—for example, performance arts initiatives may include messaging on mental health and the impact of media and current events.

Peer Support and Teen Leadership

CBOs engage teen leaders to design programs, share prevention messages, and mentor peers—helping them build coping strategies, avoid risky behaviors, and seek counseling or mental health support when needed.

Peer support fosters mutual relationships and health promotion through understanding and collaboration, building skills and resources that empower youth. Evidence shows it improves outcomes, increases empowerment, and fosters a sense of hope.

Triage and Referral

Connecting CBOs to health systems creates multiple entry points to care through community-based assessment, referrals, post-intervention, and peer support. CBOs also help coordinate follow-up care, engage teens and families, and connect individuals to crisis services when needed.

Violence Prevention and Response

CBOs provide safe spaces and structured, resilience-building activities that support upstream intervention and violence prevention. They connect youth with caring adults, screen for Adverse Childhood Experiences, and offer trauma-informed care, mental health first aid, and child abuse prevention training. Their work also includes prevention programming, community outreach, education, and helping families navigate medical and legal systems after victimization.