Community Health Needs Assessment Theme 1: Youth are Exhausted, But Not Defeated.
In our 2025 community health needs assessment, we heard that youth are struggling, but not hopeless. While youth describe themselves as tired or overwhelmed, they are confident and forward-looking. Examples of students being physically and emotionally drained, even before school starts, are common. One middle school girl said, “I’m tired, but I show up”, a quote that captures both her fatigue and commitment to push through.
In our 2025 community health needs assessment, we heard 10 major themes impacting youth mental and behavioral health in St. Louis County. See them all and learn how we conducted this assessment.
Trauma, Responsibilities and Pressure
Youth report mental well-being is impacted by trauma. They also fear the death of a loved one, lack of physical and emotional safety in school and community settings (e.g., bullying, fighting, gun violence), carry too many family responsibilities (e.g., raising siblings), and feel substantial pressure to achieve academic success, own brand-name items, and hold status among peers. A few teenage participants explain how pressure stems from the challenge of trying to meet someone else’s expectations while also figuring out their own identity. Some participants say overscheduled youth (e.g., too many sports and extracurricular activities) experience fatigue and stress.
Educators observe that pressure at school – both academic and social –contributes to anxiety and other mental health conditions. Youth agree, noting that school is a stressor or feels pointless, and they feel teachers are more focused on schoolwork than student wellbeing. School may offer some youth a place to connect with friends “in the real world”, but it also harbors bullies and violence, according to parents and youth alike.
Youth Have Knowledge of Mental Health
Youth have the ability to describe emotions and feelings. Most are very comfortable discussing mental health issues. Their mental health knowledge draws upon peer/family relationships, experience with counseling, and social media content. Educators and providers warn that today’s youth are believers in their self-made expertise. Sometimes they are too confident in their ability to diagnose mental health conditions for themselves and others.
Youth talk about responding to stress in two ways: (1) acting out or (2) practicing soothing self-care. When youth act out, they “just react without thinking about the consequences” and there may be yelling, arguing, slamming doors, fighting, etc. Educators say acting out is a call for emotional support, but punishment is often what happens. Self-care typically involves retreating to a private space to reset or be alone with their cell phone. One young man said, “I just walk, I pace [with a phone]” as his way to handle stress. Youth want adults to see their self-care choices as smart and emotionally aware.
Schools and Parents Have Not Adapted
Educators and parents acknowledge that youth today have different needs and priorities than previous generations, and that the home, community, and digital environments surrounding them have changed too. School systems and parenting have not kept pace with change.
“I’m tired, but I show up.”
— St. Louis County Middle School Student
“I just walk, I pace [with a phone]” as his way to handle stress.
— St. Louis County Middle School Student