OCMH Senior Research Analyst Amy Marsman spotlights recent articles, resources, and research findings impacting youth mental health.
|
Nearly 1 in 5 Young People Use AI Chatbots for Mental Health Advice
Rand released results of a November 2025 study that showed 19.2% of young people ages 12 to 21 had used AI chatbots for advice or help when feeling sad, angry, nervous or stressed. That is similar to the 19.8% who reported receiving counseling from a mental health professional. Researchers estimate that the figure represents about 8.2 million young people nationwide, suggesting that AI chatbots are becoming an increasingly common source of emotional and mental health support. Among adolescents and young adults who reported using AI chatbots for mental health advice, nearly two-thirds (63%) said they had not disclosed their use to anyone.
The study found that use was more common among females than males and more common among young adults ages 18 to 21 than among younger teens ages 12 to 17. Youth who had spoken with a physician about their mental health in the prior six months also were more likely to report using AI chatbots for mental health advice.
Scoping review: AI and Stigma
Stigma remains a major barrier to equitable health and well-being, while artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly recognized as a tool with both potential and risk in addressing this challenge. However, research on AI and stigma is fragmented across disciplines, hindering a unified understanding of their intersection.
To consolidate existing evidence, this scoping review identified 70 studies published between 2016 and 2025 examining the relationship between AI and health-related stigma. The majority of studies focused on AI measuring stigma (60%), stigma influencing AI use (21%), AI increasing stigma (13%), and the fewest focused on AI reducing stigma (6%). Reporting on the study concluded that AI is mapping health stigma faster than it is fixing it.
The researchers also found that most studies focused on mental health disorders, revealing an imbalance in attention to other health conditions. Across studies, the researchers observed inconsistent definitions of stigma, limited cross-cultural perspectives, and few evaluations of real-world AI applications.
Addressing these gaps will be critical for developing responsible and equitable AI systems that mitigate rather than reinforce health stigma across broader societal and health contexts.
Negative Online Experiences Among Youth With Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Concerns
A study from researchers at the Child Mind Institute finds that negative online experiences are common among children and adolescents with mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions, and that most incidents are not reported through platform reporting tools.
Published in JAACAP Open, the study examined negative online experiences among 1,009 youth ages 9 to 15 with a history of mental health or neurodevelopmental concerns, all of whom were current or previous participants in the Child Mind Institute’s Healthy Brain Network. More than one in four reported at least one negative online experience in the past year. Among those who had such an experience, nearly 69% reported multiple incidents, yet only 20% reported the incident through platform reporting tools.
In the qualitative follow-up, they also found that reporting decisions were often shaped by how young people interpreted the incident itself.
The study underscores the importance of developmentally appropriate safety tools, clearer platform policies, and stronger support systems for youth navigating digital spaces. For children and adolescents with mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions, improving reporting pathways may be an important step toward reducing hidden online harms and building safer online environments.
Social Media Use and Substance Use Experimentation
The authors of this study analyzed data from 7,166 adolescents from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, from baseline (2016–2018, ages 9–11) to year 5 (2021–2023, ages 13–16). Four social media time trajectories were identified: 1) no or very low use, 2) moderate, gradual increasing, 3) mid-onset, rapid increasing, and 4) early-onset, rapid increasing.
Compared to the no or very low use trajectory, all increasing social media trajectories were associated with higher odds of alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine experimentation, with the early-onset, rapid increasing use trajectory having the largest magnitude of associations. That is, the earlier and more rapidly tweens use social media, the more likely they are to experiment with substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis.
The authors, noting the correlation not causation, say the findings underscore the need for public health strategies that support healthier digital habits during early adolescence.
Aggression Profile in Youth With Behavioral Challenges
Aggression in children and adolescents remains a leading cause of seeking mental health services. Prior work characterized youth with aggression by using secondary analyses of large research protocol–based data sets, which revealed a profile characterized by high levels of aggression impulsive/reactive (AIR) and symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether the AIR profile was present in a clinical sample using similar methodology with novel dimensional measures of AIR. The study validated the previously described AIR profile in a new cohort of youth, further validating the construct of AIR.
Family Engagement in Research for CYSHCN
Family engagement is a priority for improving health care systems for children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). The science of family engagement is evolving, and better understanding of the current state of research could promote improved implementation. This scoping review aimed to summarize the literature on family engagement in systems-level research for families of CYSHCN, specifically focusing on definitions/descriptions of engagement, engagement measurement, and whether and how measures correlated with outcomes.
The review found that family members, predominantly parents and caregivers, were involved in various research roles, with most studies having families involved in many aspects of the project. Specific roles included participation in study design, intervention delivery, implementation, and dissemination. Few studies used formal measures of engagement limiting the ability to describe how engagement changed systems of care. The authors conclude that future studies should focus on standardized and transparent reporting about engagement, including using tools to measure engagement as this literature base grows.
Psychological well-being, school climate, loneliness, and financial stress
Psychological well-being is essential yet underexamined among college students. Guided by a psychosocial framework, this study explores how financial stress, loneliness, and perceived school mental health climate relate to psychological well-being.
Using data from the 2022-2023 Healthy Minds Study, which covered 27,000 students at 135 U.S. post-secondary institutions, researchers found loneliness had the strongest negative association with student well-being. The authors call for interventions that reduce loneliness, ease financial burdens, and enhance campus mental health climates.
Adolescents and Emergency Department Visits for Suspected Suicide Attempts
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) details trends in emergency department (ED) visits for suspected suicide attempts. Using national data from 2021–2025, the report shows overall ED visit proportions for suspected suicide attempts decreased by 7% with the largest decreases occurring among adolescents ages 12–17 and females. However, those groups still had the highest number of visits and visit proportions attributable to suspected suicide attempts.
Wisconsin Crisis Services and Emergency Detentions Statewide 2013-2024
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has published a new report on crisis services and emergency detentions covering 2013-2024. The report examines trends in emergency mental health (crisis services) and in adult and youth involuntary emergency civil detentions psychiatric hospitalizations (emergency detentions). The data show an increase in crisis services over this time, but a decrease in emergency detentions.
Release of Data Book, National Rankings, and State Profiles in Children’s Well-Being
The Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF) released the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book and Rankings. The interactive databook provides an annual snapshot of how children are faring, nationally and in every state, based on 16 indicators in four domains: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health and Family and Community. The current findings reflect the latest available data up to 2024. New this year, states receive a comprehensive child well-being score — from 0 to 1,000 — in addition to a ranking, offering a clearer picture of whether conditions for kids are improving or worsening over time. AECF noted that every state has strengths to build on and challenges to address. Wisconsin’s profile shows a mix of improvement and worsening conditions for children, with health being the lowest score.
Mindfulness Apps in Public Health Deployment Lowered Distress
Digital mental health interventions (DMHIs), such as mindfulness-based apps, have become popular mental health resources and can be associated with benefits such as reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. However, there are limited data on the impact of DMHIs on improving mental health outside of controlled research settings, and what factors may facilitate or inhibit such potential impact. This study aimed to understand whether use of Headspace – a mindfulness meditation app – within the context of a large-scale public deployment affected mental health outcomes, mental health stigma, and utilization of other mental health resources.
Participants (N = 1,229) who had used Headspace and who completed both research surveys were included in the analysis. Findings show a significant decrease in distress and loneliness over time, regardless of how long or how frequently the participants used Headspace. The authors concluded that taking part in a program that provides access to a mindfulness app may be beneficial for those in need of mental health support.
Improvements Needed to Supplemental Security Income Program
Nearly 1 million U.S. children are eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and about half for mental health-related concerns. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently revised their policy statement calling for improvements to the underutilized SSI program that provides a critical lifeline for children with disabilities. The statement says the program should have simpler applications, fewer inequities, and higher asset limits. The AAP policy statement also calls for fair compensation for pediatricians who are required to provide detailed documentation for families applying for SSI. The policy will be published in the July issue of Pediatrics.
Almost Half of U.S. Children Who Exited Foster Care in 2024 Were Reunited With Their Families
In fiscal year 2024, almost half of children who exited foster care were reunited with their families, according to a new Child Trends analysis of federal foster care data. While adoption or legal guardianship also represent positive outcomes for children, safe reunification with family remains the priority whenever possible. Aside from preserving a parent’s fundamental right to raise their own children, reunification also preserves the child’s connections to their parents, siblings, culture, and community—factors that are central to their sense of identity, belonging, and long-term well-being. Another 28% of children who exited foster care were adopted.
Use of Home-based Behavioral Health Services Among Children in Foster Care
Children in foster care in the United States often require behavioral health services due to their high rates of mental health needs. Many children in foster care who need behavioral health treatment end up in hospitals and psychiatric institutions, even when not medically necessary. Home-based behavioral health services (HBHS) for children can result in similar or better clinical outcomes than in-patient care, often with higher family satisfaction and lower costs.
Using Medicaid data from 28 states, a research team lead by Johns Hopkins University and the Center for Child Health Services Research at Icahn School of Medicine examined mental health service utilization among children aged 3-18 with primary mental health diagnoses across three groups: children in foster care, children with disability, and children from low-income households. The analysis found that HBHS use was highest among children in foster care and was associated with lower odds of hospitalization and emergency department visits and higher odds of school-based mental health services use.
Personal Growth and Mental Health Among LGBTQ+ Young People
LGBTQ+ young people who are able to meet their basic economic needs and those living in an affirming community with high levels of family support were associated with higher personal growth scores. Those with higher personal growth scores were less likely to report frequent mental distress – including being less likely to have considered or attempted suicide in the past year. Read more in the Trevor Project report.
New Maternal Health Data Dashboards
PRAMS, the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, is an ongoing survey of new mothers conducted jointly by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. The Wisconsin PRAMS program supported the development of four new maternal health data dashboards. Each dashboard focuses on a different topic: severe maternal morbidity, prenatal care, postpartum care, and maternal health services. The dashboards share data from several different sources, including PRAMS. Each dashboard also includes quotes from PRAMS participants, elevating the voices and experiences of mothers. The new dashboards and a short video tutorial are available on the maternal health data dashboard webpage: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/mch/data.htm.
New Survey: Advancing How We Measure Community Change
The Foundation for Social Connection and More in Common are working together on a research project funded by New Pluralists to create tools to measure outcomes related to pluralism, including things like social connection, belonging, trust, and bridging across differences.
As part of this work, they are conducting a short anonymous survey to capture the collective measurement, evaluation, and learning needs of the broader pluralism. They are particularly interested in hearing from those working directly within neighborhoods and communities. Fill out the survey here.
Submissions Open: Advancing the Measurement of Social Connection for Population Health
Social connection is increasingly recognized as a vital component of population health. It includes the structure of social networks, the support that flows through relationships, and the quality of interactions that contribute to well-being.
Research across multiple disciplines has established that limited or poor social connection is linked to higher risks of premature mortality, mental health problems, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, lower educational attainment, and reduced economic participation. These findings highlight the need for rigorous and comparable metrics that can illuminate the distribution, determinants, and consequences of social disconnection at scale.
This special issue invites research that advances the science of measuring social connection for population health, including children and adolescents. Submission deadline: August 28, 2026.
All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process.
Predicting Later Life Distress Using Young Adult Mental Health and Loneliness
Depression, loneliness and other psychological distress symptoms are common in the U.S. but cumulative estimates over the life course are under-studied. This study used national data from the Monitoring the Future panel study to provide lifetime cumulative risk estimates on the persistence of three types of psychological distress: loneliness, low self-esteem, and depressive symptoms.
The findings show that most risk accumulated during early adulthood: by age 60, over half (56%) had high loneliness and 46% had low self-esteem by age 25-26. Those with high loneliness at age 18 had 3.7 times the odds of high loneliness, 4.2 times the odds of high depressive symptoms, and 2.6 times the odds of low self-esteem at age 60.
The authors conclude that adolescent distress prospectively predicts later life distress. Because the majority of risk accumulates early in adulthood, prevention efforts in adolescence are potentially critical for addressing late life mental health problems.
Socially Connected Communities for Youth
The places where people live, learn, and spend time together have a powerful impact on their health and wellbeing. When public places are both safe and welcoming, people are more likely to use them for exercise and social connection. Building Safe, Active, and Connected Communities for Youth and Young Adults: An Action Guide offers policies, programs, practices, and community examples to help public health practitioners, researchers, advocates, and community members create safer, more equitable spaces where all young people can thrive. A webinar on the guide is also available.
Parental Phubbing and Adolescent Attachment
Adolescents who perceive their caregivers as frequently distracted by phones and other devices feel less confident relying on these trusted adults for support and connection, according to a new study in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. The young people also were more likely to report feeling less secure in their relationships. Known as “technoference” and “phubbing,” these device-based behaviors have only recently been examined in parent-child contexts. In this study, researchers investigated adolescents' perceptions of their primary caregivers' device-centric behaviors, the emotional appraisal of that behavior, and their association with the caregiver–adolescent attachment relationship.
Excessive Screen Time is Associated with Mental Health Problems – but Physical Activity and Sleep Help
An analysis of data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, covering 50,000 U.S. children (ages 6-17), shows that daily screen time of four hours or more was associated with a 61% higher risk of depression, a 45% higher risk of anxiety, a 24% higher risk of behavior or conduct problems, and a 21% higher risk of ADHD compared to children with lower screen use. These associations persisted after controlling for demographic factors.
Reporting on the study was careful to point out that the study found that the relationship between screen time and mental health was substantially mediated by two factors: physical activity and sleep. Children who had high screen time but also maintained adequate physical activity and regular sleep schedules showed meaningfully attenuated risk — suggesting that screens are most harmful when they displace physical movement and disrupt nighttime sleep, not simply by existing in a child's day.
Further, evidence also shows the type of screen use matters: passive consumption (scrolling, viewing) is consistently associated with worse mental health outcomes than active creation, social communication with close friends, or structured gaming with goals and problem-solving, which has not been shown to cause mental health concerns in youth.
Gaming Addiction and Loneliness
This research examined how feelings of social loneliness contribute to gaming addiction among teens, focusing on how motivations to escape reality and the ability to regulate one's actions serve as intermediaries in this relationship. The cross-sectional study surveyed 731 middle school students using validated scales measuring social loneliness, Internet gaming addiction, escape motivation, and self-control.
The results showed a significant positive association between social loneliness and Internet gaming addiction in adolescents. The findings provide theoretical backing for efforts aimed at preventing and intervening in adolescent Internet gaming addiction. They highlight the need for educators and parents to closely monitor adolescents' escape motivation and self-control abilities to mitigate the risk of addiction to gaming.
Preschool Gaming Habits May Shape Later Problematic Gaming
A decades-spanning analysis reveals that children who game frequently before age 6 may be more likely to report problematic gaming symptoms as adults, offering new clues about when gaming habits begin to shape long-term behavior. (Internet gaming disorder is a condition characterized by an obsession with video games to an extent that can cause distress and functional impairments.)
The study identifies childhood (preschool) and adolescence (high school) as the life stages most strongly associated with later problematic gaming symptoms. Gaming engagement during these periods was associated with higher levels of problematic gaming behavior in adulthood. The study also finds that online gaming is a stronger predictor of problematic behaviors than offline gaming.
Analysis of Smartphone Addiction and Mental Health Factors in Youth
Evidence indicates that smartphone addiction is associated with a series of psychological problems. However, there is still a lack of sufficient understanding regarding smartphone addiction that occurs in both negative and positive mental health conditions in youths, and which direction the association flows. This study aimed to map the network linking smartphone addiction (SMA) with negative (depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness) and positive (life satisfaction, social support, resilience, and self-efficacy) mental health factors in youths.
Using a cross-sectional sample of 701 Chinese youths (ages 16-20), the researchers found youth with SMA reported higher depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness, and lower life satisfaction, social support, resilience, and self-efficacy than their peers. SMA was most strongly linked to stress; and stress was statistically associated with depression and loneliness. The researchers concluded that stress and depression appear to be key pathways from SMA to broader psychopathology, highlighting the need for stress regulation and depression management, alongside strengthening mental health promotion in youth with smartphone addiction.
Gen Z Fact Sheet – Made By Us
Made By Us is a nationwide network of 500 museums, historic sites, and libraries informing and inspiring next-gen civic participation. Their Gen Z Fact Sheet, updated for 2026, is a synthesis of data points on youth in America. It includes data insights, demographic data, and data summaries of connection and belonging.
Research Practices to Engage and Support Youth Researchers
When youth and youth voice are genuinely incorporated into projects, their well-being improves. Critical participatory action research (cPAR) is an approach grounded in the belief that those served by research should help design it. Child Trends highlights three key cPAR practices that can help other researchers create an engaging, supportive, learning-focused environment:
- Create safe spaces for all participants to share their experiences.
- Allow time for all group members to build relational trust.
- Value participants’ lived experience to strengthen your work.
Those interested in learning more about this cPAR approach and how Child Trends led Research Group meetings, visit the Child Trends Comprehensive Library of Community-Engaged Research Resources.
OCMH Research and Data Resources
Key Facts in Youth Mental Health:
https://children.wi.gov/Pages/ResearchData/KeyFacts.aspx
Fact Sheets:
https://children.wi.gov/Pages/ResearchData/FactSheets.aspx
Data Sources:
https://children.wi.gov/Pages/Resources/DataSources.aspx
Research News in Youth Mental Health:
https://children.wi.gov/Pages/OCMHNewsletters.aspx
Youth Mental Health Initiatives:
https://children.wi.gov/Pages/Resources/ChildrensInitiatives.aspx
|
