Easton, PA – 3/4/26 – Youth, families, educators, and community leaders from across the Lehigh Valley gathered at Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 for a Strong Minds, Bright Futures Community Dialogue on Youth Mental Health, part of a statewide listening tour designed to hear directly from communities about the barriers children and families face and the solutions they want to see.

The event brought together nearly 50 participants, including parents, students, mental health professionals, school staff, and local leaders, for an evening of stories, discussion, and shared problem-solving focused on how to better support children before challenges become crises.

Jim McDonald, Director of Behavioral Health at Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, shared new data highlighting the urgency of the issue.

“The results are concerning. They’re alarming… We’re seeing a growing mental health needs for kids and teens,” said McDonald. “Anxiety, depression, other challenges are affecting more and more young people, and far too often accessing support is complicated, inconsistent, or delayed.”

McDonald also shared regional data from the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) that underscores the urgency of the issue. Across IU 20’s region, 23% of students described their mental health in the last month as “not good,” 16% reported seriously considering suicide in the past year, and 5% reported attempting suicide.

Throughout the evening, speakers described the many barriers that still stand between young people and the support they need, including long waitlists, insurance problems, transportation barriers, stigma, school bullying, and a shortage of providers.

“Young people today encounter real barriers when they need support,” said Beth Peters, therapist and community advocate. “There’s long wait lists… there’s so many insurance limitations… there’s transportation challenges… there’s also a shortage of providers.”

Peters also warned that when children do not get help early, the consequences can be serious. “What could have been early support was now a crisis response,” she said.

Several youth speakers shared personal experiences about struggling in silence, dealing with bullying, and trying to find support in school and at home. Their stories

highlighted both the pain many young people carry and the life-changing impact of being heard and supported.

Aixa Grave, a student from East Stroudsburg High School North and president of her school’s Aevidum club, spoke about the importance of making sure students know where to turn for help. “I want people to know that it’s okay to ask for help and to get the help that you need,” Grave said. “I want people to know that there are resources, even if it doesn’t seem like it.”

Another youth speaker, Lydia Peters, spoke about how even a small act of care from an adult can make a difference. “How are you doing?” she said. “That simple statement can change the trajectory of somebody’s life.”

The role of peer support and youth leadership also emerged as a major theme. Mary Pritchard, Director of Outreach for Aevidum, emphasized that students are often the first to notice when someone is struggling. “Students know before anyone else if a peer is struggling,” Prichard said. “If they feel safe enough to share with each other and safe enough to say, ‘Hey, I think you need to talk to somebody,’ then that

help-seeking behavior happens.”

Parents also described how difficult it can be to navigate disconnected systems while trying to get help for their children. Joanna Perez, a parent and former educator, shared her family’s experience seeking support for her son. “We did not need punishment. We needed earlier intervention. We needed coordinated support,” Perez said. “What is actually happening is that we are drowning in systems that do not talk to each other.”

In small-group discussions following the speakers, participants identified the barriers they continue to see across the region and the solutions they believe are needed most. Key themes included expanding support in schools and community settings, increasing awareness of programs that already exist, improving communication between schools, providers, and families, reducing stigma, supporting parents, strengthening the workforce, and investing in prevention so children can get help earlier.

Participants also stressed that schools need more staff training and clearer pathways to support students experiencing bullying, trauma, school avoidance, or other signs of distress. Families and providers alike emphasized that young people need systems that respond earlier, work better together, and are easier to access.

Across sectors, attendees shared a strong commitment to continuing this work in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. The conversation made clear that improving children’s mental health will require not only compassion and awareness, but also sustained advocacy, stronger coordination, and long-term public investment.

WHAT: Strong Minds, Bright Futures – Lehigh Valley County Community Dialogue on Youth Mental Health

WHEN: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 5:00–7:00 PM

WHERE: Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, 6 Danforth Drive, Easton, PA 18045

WHO ATTENDED:

• Youth and families from across the Lehigh Valley
• Local educators, school personnel, and mental health providers
• Representatives from community organizations and health systems
• Jim McDonald, Director of Behavioral Health, Colonial Intermediate Unit 20
• Maggie Murphy, Executive Director of NAMI Lehigh Valley
• Mary Pritchard, Director of Outreach, Aevidum
• Dr. Andrew Clark, Section Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, St. Luke’s University Health Network

WHY THIS MATTERS:

Across the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania, more children and teens are struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and suicidal thoughts, yet many families still face barriers when trying to get help. Long waitlists, provider shortages, transportation problems, stigma, confusing systems, and gaps in school-based support can delay care until young people are already in crisis. Dialogues like this one lift up the voices of youth, families, educators, and providers so communities and policymakers can better understand what is working, where gaps remain, and what changes are needed to build a stronger, more responsive system of support for children.

Key Takeaways from the Lehigh Valley Dialogue:

• Support children earlier: Children need support before crises.
• Reduce barriers to care: Families need fewer obstacles, shorter waitlists, more providers, better transportation, & fewer insurance-related hurdles.
• Strengthen school and community support: Schools, afterschool spaces, & community organizations all have a role to play youth mental health services.
• Increase awareness of available help: Many students and families still do not know what programs and supports already exist.
• Improve coordination: Schools, providers, families, and community organizations need to work together more closely.
• Center youth and family voice: Young people and caregivers should help shape the solutions.
• Invest for the long term: Real change will require sustained funding, stronger staffing, and continued advocacy.

ABOUT STRONG MINDS, BRIGHT FUTURES: Strong Minds, Bright Futures is a statewide partnership dedicated to improving youth mental health across Pennsylvania by advocating for policy changes, expanding mental health services, and supporting families. Learn more at strongmindspa.org, and follow us on Facebook, BlueSky, and LinkedIn @StrongMindsPA and on Twitter and Instagram @PaStrongMinds.

For more information or to schedule interviews, David Heayn-Menendez at 267-361-7945 or info@strongmindspa.org

Information provided to TVL by:
StrongMindsPA