The Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is on the front lines of battling the youth mental health crisis, and it's securing reinforcements in the form of a $10 million grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA).
“We know every child and teen is better equipped to succeed when we meet them where they are to address their needs, and that includes providing access to reliable mental health resources and support,” Jim Clark, BGCA’s president and CEO, said in a release. “Through our partnership with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, we’re eager to expand our trauma-informed work in Clubs and deepen their capacity to serve as safe places for youth across the nation.”
Meeting patients where they are is especially critical for Black and Hispanic youth 13 to 18 years old with a mental health condition, because their problems are more likely to lead to negative outcomes than their white counterpoints, according to the organizations.
The announcement comes on the heels of research released last week by BCBSA based on claims data that find diagnosed rates of anxiety for that age group rose between 2017 and 2021, while rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression grew about 50% to 60% in the same period.
In addition, BCBSA found that ADHD and depression comprise the top two conditions adversely affecting young people ages 7 to 18, and anxiety affects 1 in 5 adolescents. These problems had been present before the COVID-19 pandemic and only got worse during the lockdowns.
BCBSA also found that boys are more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition, particularly ADHD and developmental disorders, while adolescent girls are more likely to be diagnosed with any mental health condition except for ADHD.
BCBCA officials hope that the $10 million grant to the Boys & Girls Clubs will help:
- Create and implement strategies to deal with trauma throughout the clubs
- Increase BGCA staff awareness of youth mental health problems through the help of professional development and expand regional training centers in the country where staff can learn those skills
- Provide resources to help young people build the skills needed to deal with challenging experiences
- Offer virtual therapy sessions to BGCA youth and staff as a way to increase access to mental health services
- Evaluate these measures to ensure quality improvement
“Between 5,000 clubs across the country and the Blues’ deep roots in every Zip code, together we are uniquely positioned to intervene early, get kids the help they need, and set them on the path for the future they deserve,” BCBSA CEO Kim Keck said in the release.
“The United States has been grappling with a growing and alarming youth mental health crisis that demands a multi-faceted approach to provide kids with the tools they need to confront the challenges they face in school, at home and in their everyday lives,” she added.