As the Chair of the Mental Health Subcommittee for the Marin County Youth Commission, I am able to be a voice for the youth of Marin when it comes to mental health. Over the years, I have heard my generation’s hopes, frustrations, and too often their quiet struggles. One message has always come through clearly and consistently: youth mental health support is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
This is not a new problem; this issue is not going to resolve itself and it is, without a doubt, not getting any better. According to a 2025 statewide poll by Blue Shield of California, 94% of young people in California report experiencing mental health challenges on a regular basis, and about one-third describe their mental health as fair or poor. These figures align with both national and local data showing increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and stress among youth.
That is why the Marin County Youth Commission introduced and passed a resolution written by the Mental Health Subcommittee urging Marin County and the Board of Supervisors to allocate a stable, properly maintained budget that protects and funds mental health resources for youth. This resolution is not radical. It is not partisan. It is a call for responsibility, empathy, and foresight for the next generation.
For many years, Marin County has been recognized for responsible fiscal management and strong public services. In recent history, youth mental health programs have joined that legacy. But today, recent and proposed budget cuts threaten the availability and quality of services that many young people depend upon—especially those who cannot access care due to a lack of financial means. In 2025, due to the Trump Administration’s unprecedented reductions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, the Marin County Office of Education lost over 14 million dollars in funding for mental health resources supporting five school districts spanning Marin County. These budget cuts will have a lasting negative impact on the wellbeing of our County’s youth, and as a community, we must do better for those in need.
Local data confirms that mental health challenges among teens are deep and real. A 2024 youth-led survey through the Marin County AIM Ideas Lab found that nearly 90% of local teens report anxiety among their peers, more than 86% report high stress or burnout, and over 70% report depression or low self-esteem. Disturbingly, more than half of respondents reported self-harm behavior in their social circles, and nearly 45% noted suicidal thoughts among peers.
Youth in Marin face extreme pressures: academic demands, social isolation, economic uncertainty, and broader real-world stressors all threaten the well being of young people today. In the AIM survey, nearly 80% of teens identified grades, fear of not being “good enough,” heavy workloads, and lack of sleep as sources of stress. Likewise, the statewide data shows that housing affordability, gun violence, climate change, discrimination, and racism are among the top stressors contributing to poor mental health.
In addition, barriers to accessing care persist. The same state survey found that more than a third of young people who wanted professional help did not seek it because of embarrassment, and over one-fifth cited cost or not knowing where to find help as obstacles.
For many students, school is not just a place of learning—it is where they find counseling, crisis support, and trusted adults. When funding is reduced, waitlists grow, programs shrink, and young people fall through the cracks.
These impacts are not evenly distributed. Budget reductions disproportionately harm low-income youth, youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and those from historically underserved communities. Publicly funded mental health services are often their only accessible option. Cutting funding does not eliminate need—it simply delays care until a crisis occurs. The state data also shows that nearly all young people reporting poor mental health identify as youth of color, and a significant share of those reporting poor mental health are LGBTQ+.
There is also a practical argument that should be brought to light. Maintaining strong mental health programs ultimately saves money in the long run. Early intervention reduces emergency room visits, hospitalizations, involvement with the justice system, and long-term healthcare costs. Investing in youth mental health is not only the right choice—it is the smart choice.
But beyond data and budgets, this issue is deeply human. Youth across Marin have shared their lived experiences, whether that is with teachers, friends, or other trusted adults—their stories of struggling in silence, of finally reaching out for help, and of how access to counseling or peer support changed the trajectory of their lives. When young people tell us what they need, we have a responsibility to not only listen but to take action.
Our resolution also calls for continued collaboration between the county, schools, community organizations, and youth-serving agencies. No single institution can address the youth mental health crisis alone. Progress depends on partnership, coordination, and a shared commitment to putting young people first.
Marin prides itself on being a community that cares. Now is the time when we prove it. Upholding a stable budget for youth mental health is a statement of values and morals, it says that we believe young people matter, that their well-being is worth protecting, and that we are willing to invest in a healthier and better future for everyone.
I urge the Marin County Board of Supervisors and County leadership to take this resolution into consideration not only as a recommendation from the Youth Commission, but as a stand for what our generation is in need of: support, stability, and the chance to thrive.
Our mental health should never be the line item that gets cut. Our futures depend on it.