Mental Health Awareness Month: The Hidden Crisis Facing Youth in Our Communities
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to the growing mental health challenges impacting individuals and families across both St Johns and Putnam Counties. While conversations around mental health have become more common, the reality is that too many young people are still struggling in silence.
The numbers tell a concerning story.
Youth suicide rates among ages 10–24 in the US have increased by more than 60% since 2007, according to the CDC. Florida’s overall suicide rate has also steadily risen over the past two decades, and suicide remains one of the leading causes of death statewide.
But statistics only tell part of the story.
The Reality in St. Johns County
In St. Johns County, the need is often hidden beneath the surface. While our community is frequently recognized for its schools, growth, and quality of life, many young people are quietly experiencing anxiety, depression, isolation, and overwhelming pressure.
St. Johns County’s suicide rate is estimated at approximately 16.5 per 100,000 residents, higher than Florida’s average of 13.1 per 100,000. Behind every number is a child, teen, parent, friend, or neighbor whose life has been impacted.
Mental health struggles do not always look the way people expect. Many young people continue to excel academically, participate in extracurricular activities, and appear successful outwardly while silently battling emotional distress.
The Most Vulnerable Youth in Our Region
Across St. Johns County and Putnam County, several groups of youth face heightened risk.
Middle and High School Students
Adolescence is often the peak onset period for depression and anxiety. Social pressures, academic expectations, identity development, and constant digital connection can create overwhelming emotional strain.
ALICE Households
Families who are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) often face ongoing financial instability despite working hard to make ends meet. Financial stress within the home can significantly impact emotional wellbeing, increasing anxiety, and uncertainty for children and teens. Click here to learn more about ALICE.
Rural and Underserved Youth in Putnam County
In many rural areas, limited access to mental health providers and transportation barriers can delay intervention and support. For youth already struggling, delayed care can make challenges even more severe.
High-Achieving Youth in St. Johns County
In high-performing environments, mental health concerns are often masked by achievement. Perfectionism, fear of failure, and pressure to succeed can lead many students to internalize anxiety and emotional distress rather than ask for help.
As Carl F. Cricco III, President & CEO of United Way of St. Johns and Putnam Counties, explains:
“In our region, youth mental health challenges don’t look the same, but they are just as urgent. In Putnam County, poverty and limited access drive the crisis. In St. Johns County, pressure and hidden distress do. But in both communities, the outcome is the same: more young people struggling without the support they need.”
Creating a Community of Support
Mental health awareness is about more than recognition. It is about action.
It means creating environments where young people feel safe asking for help. It means increasing access to care, reducing stigma, supporting families, and ensuring schools and community organizations have the resources needed to respond early.
No young person should feel alone in their struggle.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we encourage our community to check in on one another, start conversations, and remember that healing begins with connection, compassion, and support.
Strengthening Our Community Response
In partnership with the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund, we are proud to commit $190,000 by the end of the year to advance this critical work and help our next generation thrive. Our Student Mental Health Initiative provides funding to organizations addressing the full spectrum of youth mental health and family support needs across St. Johns and Putnam Counties.
Through your partnership, we have been able to invest in nonprofits delivering 24/7 youth crisis intervention and mobile response services, trauma-informed counseling and family support, emergency and transitional housing for at-risk youth and families, support for domestic violence survivors and pregnant teens, and mentorship, prevention, substance abuse education, and resilience-building programs. This collaborative, community-wide approach has strengthened the local network of care and expanded access to critical services for children and families who need them most.