Addressing the youth mental health crisis: California’s model for the nation

OPINION – There is no more important investment we can make as a society than in the next generation—especially when improving their mental health. As a doctor and neuroscientist, I have a unique perspective on why investing in young people’s mental well-being is foundational for our future. After all, we can only meet the challenges ahead by investing in young people’s “Brain Capital,” their social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. The good news is that California has embarked on an innovative approach to addressing youth mental health challenges that could be a model for the nation. The state must continue to invest in this approach, evolving and expanding to meet young people’s needs.

It is well known that today’s youth face unprecedented challenges that significantly impact their mental health. The aftermath of a global pandemic, climate-related stress, the pervasive influence of social media, isolation, and international instability create a multitude of stressors. Between 2019 and 2021, approximately one-third of California teens experienced serious psychological distress, with a 20 percent increase in adolescent suicides. These are alarming figures, and young people should not have to face these challenges alone; they need access to professional resources.

California’s response to this growing crisis includes deploying technology to provide equitable and timely access to mental healthcare, especially for underserved communities which aims to bridge the gap in mental health services. One solution has been the state’s introduction of a behavioral health platform called Soluna, which aims to bridge the gap in mental health services when a person is in their first time of need. This tool provides essential mental healthcare access, particularly for those who lack insurance, have disabilities, or come from low-income backgrounds. Soluna is available to all California residents aged 13 to 25 at no cost, ensuring that the first step towards getting help is accessible to everyone who needs it.

Soluna is a cornerstone of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, a comprehensive strategy to increase mental health services access across California. The platform offers a range of services backed up by evidence-based research. It includes immediate access to sessions with accredited professional coaches, de-stressing and educational tools, digital journaling,      and pre-moderated forums where users can share effective strategies and support each other in a safe community. Importantly, this is not a social media app; there are no peer-to-peer messaging functions, and all communications are moderated or done directly with professionals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment.

Given how connected young people are today, technology can play a vital role in addressing the shortage of in-person mental health care. A 2018 report from UC San Francisco predicted a 40% higher demand for psychologists and therapists by 2028 compared to supply, with nearly a third of California counties lacking child and adolescent psychiatrists entirely. By providing an online alternative, Soluna helps fill this gap to in-person services and ensures that mental health care is accessible anytime and anywhere.

Soluna’s evidence-based approach, supported by peer-reviewed research from its twenty years of experience operating programs in the U.K., shows promise in improving mental health outcomes. Soluna will significantly improve mental health access and outcomes for California’s youth and deliver an estimated cost saving of up to $12 for every $1 spent on Soluna by reducing demand for downstream healthcare services. An independent evaluation of Kooth, the company behind Soluna, demonstrated significant cost savings, decreased health care and social service utilization and improved educational and behavioral outcomes. Given the valid concerns about online safety, Soluna maintains strict privacy controls and data security standards, allowing users to access care anonymously and confidently.

The platform is expected to deliver substantial cost savings for California by improving mental health access and outcomes and reducing the demand for downstream healthcare services.

California’s initiative exemplifies the forward-thinking investments needed to support the next generation and overcome the current limitations of our already overburdened mental health service providers. By continuing to develop robust public-private partnerships and equitable mental health solutions, we can effectively address the youth mental health crisis to ensure they have the tools to carry society forward in the future.

The stakes are high, given that young people face so many challenges. We only have one chance to get it right. We are thankful Governor Newson invested in youth mental health and strongly urge the legislature to continue funding this vital resource to ensure that every young person receives the support they need.

Harris A. Eyre, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., is a medical doctor and neuroscientist focused on using scalable new technologies and public policy to boost nation-states’ brain capital (i.e., brain health and brain skills).