Rewriting the narrative: Youth empowerment matters in mental health
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Today’s youth are facing unique mental health challenges, growing up in a world that is increasingly complex, faster paced and more interconnected than ever before. Systemic issues and a youth’s individual environment both impact mental health, and well-intentioned adults and communities aren’t always equipped to help in meaningful ways. One in five youth will experience a mental health disorder this year, yet nearly half of those impacted will struggle to access the support they need to navigate and thrive beyond their condition.
In 2022, the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission estimated the statewide fiscal impact of untreated mental illness in Indiana at more than $4 billion. A combination of state action and federal COVID-relief dollars paved the way for some serious progress in mental health resources from Certified Community Behavioral Health to the expansion of 988 services. Much of that progress has slowed, however, with the expiration of federal support and more restrained budgets at the Statehouse and in school districts across Indiana. To continue expanding support for youth mental health in Indiana, leaders in schools and youth-serving organizations must embrace innovative ideas that aren’t cost prohibitive. This is where peer support can help.
Young people are often underestimated in their abilities and their resilience in managing and overcoming mental health conditions. Adults may act on behalf of youth who are struggling, without actively engaging them in their treatment and recovery process. School counselors, parents, and psychiatrists may meet to build a plan to support a young person, but that young person isn’t usually part of the conversation and may not be asked “what do you think?”, “what would you like to see happen?” or “what works for you?”
In these cases, adults unintentionally silence the young person’s voice and autonomy in their own life. Usually, this approach comes from a good place – adults worry about overburdening youth or asking them to shoulder too much responsibility for recovery. But ultimately, youth want and need to be involved in shaping their treatment. They want to be active participants in their own recovery and have self-determination over the process.
I hear from youth frequently that adults make assumptions about adolescence based on their own experiences without fully realizing how drastically the world has changed over the past decades. Growing up in 2025 is different than growing up in 2015, and anything long before that might as well be ancient history.
That’s not to discount adult support in the youth mental health space. Youth absolutely need supportive, caring adults in their corner as they navigate mental health challenges, but youth must be empowered as active participants in order for recovery to be real and lasting.
It’s not easy. Mental health struggles can show up in ways that are difficult to understand or
interact with, and adults may dismiss negative behaviors as disruptive or disinterested instead of recognizing them as markers of a mental health struggle.
Peer support is a powerful solution. Programs that incorporate peer mentoring are uniquely positioned to empower youth at all stages of their mental health journeys, changing the narrative from victim to active leaders and change makers. A 2023 paper from Australian researchers states that “the peer worker and peer relationship is uniquely characterized by shared experience,” and that “the value of expertise [comes] through experience rather than clinical education and training.”
The youth I’ve worked with through One in Five are incredible. They’ve gained powerful knowledge and skills over the course of their own treatment and recovery journeys and are ready and eager to share that knowledge with others. These young people possess a remarkable level of intuition and a deep understanding of how to support their peers and navigate different life experiences. Programs like One in Five empower youth to tap into those skills and experiences and activate that intuition in support of others and their own recoveries. The end result? Students feel connected and capable and find strength in their shared experiences.
Over and over I hear from youth that they just want the adults in their lives to listen. Young people have a clear understanding of their needs – are we, as adults, offering the time and space and energy to listen? Are we committed to building relationships that make those conversations possible? We must show up for our youth who are navigating mental health challenges in the midst of adolescence. We need to step up – as parents, as neighbors, as community members – and start listening to our youth, working together to envision what a positive and resilient mental health experience could be.
As state and local resources begin to wear thin in the post-COVID budget landscape, we need to offer solutions to young Hoosiers that are effective and easy enough to implement. It’s time to rewrite the outdated narrative that adults know best. Our youth are capable of far more than we give them credit for, and with the right support, they can overcome even the most difficult struggles.
Nicole Beeman-Cadwallader, Ph.D., founded One in Five to address gaps in youth mental health services through innovative peer-based support systems, inspired by her own mental health experiences.