YOUTH MENTAL
HEALTH
Education and promotion powered by evidence-based, peer-to-peer models. We equip young people to recognize, respond to, and lead conversations about mental wellness in their communities. Because when youth lead, we ignite hope, instill confidence, and inspire possibility.
ARKANSAS NEEDS this
The mental health crisis among Arkansas youth is not coming. It is here. These numbers tell the story of why prevention-first, evidence-based approaches matter more than ever.
3rd Highest
Increase in childhood depression and anxiety from 2016 to 2020.
Source: KIDS COUNT® Data Book
1 in 5
Arkansas adolescents had a diagnosed mental health condition in 2023.
Source: National Survey of Children's Health
56%
Of Arkansas youth with depression did not receive treatment.
Source: Mental Health America
49th
Arkansas ranks near the bottom for youth mental health access.
Source: America's Health Rankings
WHY PEER-TO-PEER MODELS WORK
Research consistently demonstrates that peer-led mental health interventions produce meaningful outcomes for young people. A 2024 scoping review published in Global Mental Health found that peer-led programs improve mental health knowledge, reduce stigma, and increase help-seeking behavior among youth (Chow et al., 2024). A 2023 systematic review in BMC Psychiatry confirmed that peer support from individuals with lived experience significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression in young people (Simmons et al., 2023).
Young people are more likely to disclose mental health concerns to a peer before an adult. By training youth as certified Teen Mental Health First Aiders and peer educators, we create a network of support that meets young people where they are: in schools, on social media, and in their communities. When youth see someone who looks like them leading the conversation, stigma decreases and help-seeking increases.
That is how we ignite hope, instill confidence, and inspire possibility.
Sources: Chow, D. et al. (2024). "A scoping review on peer-led interventions to improve youth mental health." Global Mental Health, 12, e1. | Simmons, M.B. et al. (2023). "The effectiveness of peer support from a person with lived experience for young people with anxiety and depression." BMC Psychiatry, 23, 194. | Murphy, R. et al. (2024). "A systematic scoping review of peer support interventions in integrated primary youth mental health care." Journal of Community Psychology, 52(1), 154-180.
IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT awareness
Mental health struggles do not happen in isolation. They are shaped by environment, identity, relationships, and access. To truly support young people, we have to address the full picture.
WHAT DRIVES THE CRISIS
Youth mental health challenges are not caused by a single factor. They are compounded by systemic barriers and everyday stressors:
- Social isolation and lack of belonging
- Chronic stress from poverty, racism, and instability
- Unprocessed grief, trauma, or adverse childhood experiences
- Stigma that prevents help-seeking, especially among boys and young men
- Limited access to culturally responsive mental health services
When we talk about youth mental health, we must also talk about equity, identity, community, and systemic change.
OUR PREVENTION-FIRST APPROACH
Village Public Health does not wait for crisis. We build the skills, connections, and confidence young people need before they reach a breaking point.
Training youth as certified Mental Health First Aiders to support their peers
Building emotional literacy and coping skills through coaching
Creating safe spaces where vulnerability is strength, not weakness
Addressing stigma head-on through peer-led conversations
Connecting youth to resources before crisis, not after
"Prevention is more effective than treatment alone, especially for youth mental health."
— WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
TRAININGS FOR young people
Evidence-based programs designed to equip young people with the skills, certifications, and confidence to become peer connectors and public health leaders in their communities.
TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Nationally CertifiedLEARNS ACT HOURSA nationally certified program designed specifically for teens in grades 9 through 12. This evidence-based curriculum teaches students how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers. Using the ALGEE action plan, teens learn to offer initial support and connect peers to trusted adults and professional resources. Training can count toward LEARNS Act service hours.
QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION
QPR CertifiedLEARNS ACT HOURSQuestion, Persuade, Refer is an evidence-based gatekeeper training listed on the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. This program equips youth and adults to recognize verbal, behavioral, and situational warning signs of suicidal ideation and connect people to help before a crisis occurs. Research shows that QPR-trained individuals demonstrate significantly increased knowledge, self-efficacy, and likelihood of intervening (Quinnett, 2023).
THE RESILIENCE LAB
A youth and young adult health coaching program supporting mental, physical, and emotional wellness through structured coaching sessions, evidence-based skill building, and peer support groups. The Resilience Lab uses a strengths-based approach grounded in motivational interviewing and positive youth development frameworks.
VILLAGE PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE
Certificate of CompletionLEARNS ACT HOURSA comprehensive summer experience integrating mental health literacy, workforce development, peer facilitation training, and leadership development. Participants earn service learning hours while gaining real-world public health experience rooted in evidence-based prevention science.
TRAININGS FOR professionals
Certified, evidence-based training programs for educators, coaches, mentors, and other adults who work directly with young people. These programs are delivered through the Village Public Health Training Center.
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Nationally CertifiedLEARNS ACT HOURSA nationally certified, evidence-based 8-hour training designed for adults who regularly interact with young people ages 12 to 18. Participants learn to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in youth. The curriculum covers anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, and substance use, and teaches the ALGEE 5-step action plan for offering initial support and connecting young people to appropriate care. Certified by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Delta Youth Council
Peer connectors, not peer counselors. The Delta Youth Council is a youth mental health ambassador program that puts young people at the center of prevention. As an evidence-based public health practice, we do things alongside adolescents and young adults, not to them. This is how we ignite hope, instill confidence, and inspire possibility.
WELLNESS
Whole-person health encompassing mental, physical, emotional, and social well-being. We address the full spectrum because health is not compartmentalized.
ELEVATE
Rise above chaos. Rise into purpose. Rise into clarity. We are not fixing youth. We are lifting vision, standards, and self-expectation.
LEADERSHIP
Influence with integrity. Peer connectors, not peer counselors. Young people leading conversations that change communities.
LIFE
Real-world skills. Career pathways. Economic mobility. Public health as a future, not just a lesson.
WHY THE DELTA YOUTH COUNCIL EXISTS
Too many young people navigate critical life decisions without the guidance, tools, or safe spaces they deserve. We saw a gap between what traditional systems provide and what young people actually need to thrive. Village Public Health was built to close that gap by bringing evidence-based prevention to the forefront and preparing the next generation to lead healthier, more confident lives.
WHAT COUNCIL MEMBERS DO
- Lead peer-driven mental health conversations in schools and communities.
- Facilitate workshops using our peer-to-peer approach.
- Connect peers to resources as connectors rather than counselors.
- Build career pathways in public health through structured service learning.
- Create culturally relevant content that reaches youth where they are.
BE PART OF THE solution
You do not have to be a professional to make a difference. Step up as a mental health advocate and earn service learning hours by utilizing your voice. Here is how young people are Igniting Hope. Instilling Confidence. Inspiring Possibility in Arkansas communities.
Peer Educator
Lead mental health awareness workshops in schools and community settings after completing evidence-based training.
Public Health Ambassador
Serve as a mental health advocate in your community through our structured service learning program.
Teen MHFA Certified Youth
Earn your national Teen Mental Health First Aid certification and become a trusted resource for your peers.
Wellness Coach-in-Training
Shadow certified coaches and develop facilitation skills through The Resilience Lab, building the next generation of public health leaders.
HEAR FROM the youth
Dr. Mumford joined teen hosts ages 10 to 18 on the youth-led PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show to discuss mental health challenges facing young people today.
PHAT LIP! YOU(TH)TALK RADIO: MARCH 2026