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Head in the Game

PROMOTING YOUTH MENTAL WELLBEING IN THE U.S. 

In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared youth mental health a national emergency in the United States. Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It is a key driver of overall health that is also tied to physical health.

During the critical teen years, important developmental changes occur and behaviors and habits are formed that ultimately shape a person’s adulthood. However, young people are increasingly struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, panic attacks, self-harm and more, while resources and training on approaches to support them are lagging behind.

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PREVENTION > PROMOTION > ATTITUDINAL CHANGE

Head In The Game was created to address the urgent youth mental health crisis. The program collaborates with and engages members of the U.S. sports community – local, collegiate and professional – to boost mental wellbeing and normalize discussions about mental health.

The initiative is designed to improve mental health outcomes for 13- to 19-year-olds by focusing on both young people and the adults who support them. Our goal is to help mental wellbeing become part of everyday conversations and to close the gap on inequities.

Head In The Game uses a systems-change approach to empower youth and their communities through resources and coaches training, providing knowledge-building opportunities and safe spaces to speak freely.

African-American teen girl staring into the distance

THE PROBLEM

In January 2022, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a rare public health advisory calling on the nation to respond to the growing mental health crisis impacting young people, worsened by the COVID pandemic and social justice unrest. Despite this call to action, mental health remains at crisis levels and adequate resources to bridge gaps have not kept up with needs.

Currently, 1 in 5 U.S. youth have had a serious/debilitating mental illness and according to the World Health Organization:

  • Depression and anxiety are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by age 14, but most cases are undetected and untreated.
  • 8% of children and 15% of adolescents worldwide experience a mental disorder, but the majority of them do not seek help or receive care.
  • Adolescence is a crucial period for developing social and emotional habits important for mental wellbeing.

In a 2025 UNICEF Youth Mental Health report, 6 in 10 Gen Z said they felt overwhelmed by news and events happening in their community, country and the world at large.

HOW IT WORKS

Head In The Game addresses the deep-rooted issues behind the youth mental health crisis, with an eye on lasting solutions. Encompassing grants and capacity building, coaches trainings, targeted teen advocacy and community learning, the program has positively impacted hundreds of thousands of youth.

Head In The Game develops the capacity of people engaging with young people to respond to their specific experiences and needs, while also providing a diverse range of digital resources for teens and caregivers, workshops on coaching through a mental wellbeing lens and a Learning Community.

For more information on Head In The Game, email [email protected]