‘Finding Hope': A New Spotlight on Youth Mental Health in Rhode Island and Massachusetts

Study after study has shown young people across the country are facing a mental health “crisis.” And that’s no different here in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

That’s one reason why this week, Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio are launching “Finding Hope,” a project spotlighting how local youth are facing mental health challenges with resilience.

Sarah Trudeau, community education specialist at Rhode Island PBS and a coordinator of the project, spoke with The Public Radio’s Luis Hernandez about “Finding Hope.”

On the depths the youth mental health “crisis” in Rhode Island

Sarah Trudeau: Local information-based advocacy organization known as Rhode Island Kids Count — every year they actually release a report on pediatric mental health. We are currently in a youth mental health crisis nationally but specifically in Rhode Island too.

And across the past few years youth have increasingly been reporting feelings of hopelessness and sadness especially coming out of the pandemic. It’s been really tough for youth to connect with each other, but also on a community scale as well.

(Editor’s note: A 2024 Rhode Island Kids Count report found that, for example, in 2023, 36% of Rhode Island high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for more than two weeks.)

On why ‘Finding Hope’ doesn’t focus solely on problems

Trudeau: When it comes to this sort of topic, people really focus on ‘O.K., this is going wrong. Here are the statistics…’ But with this project it’s also: What’s going well? What are youth doing specifically in this state, on their own essentially, to empower each other and to lift each other up? To reduce the stigma, but to take control of the current crisis, really.

A lot of educators are involved, too, in creating those safe spaces to have these difficult conversations and to uplift those youth that are really passionate about this. So, ‘Finding Hope’ is more about: What’s going well, empowering youth to take control of their own lives, really.

On what ‘Finding Hope’ actually looks like

Trudeau: Not only are we sharing community resources, we are telling stories, but we’re really encouraging the community to share stories throughout the week as well.

At RIPBS.org/findinghope, there is a Google form where we’d like to hear from the community throughout the week. Share your story on pediatric mental health, whether you’re a parent, whether you are a student, whether you are a teacher. Really, hearing about your own perspectives throughout the week is really one thing we’d love to hear from you.

Coverage for Finding Hope was underwritten by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island.