Stigma Is Not Top Barrier for Teens Seeking Mental Health Support

New research by The Jed Foundation (JED) shows teens are more concerned about feeling that others wouldn’t understand them, discomfort surrounding emotional conversations, and perceived fear of being a burden to others. They primarily turn to non-judgmental parents for emotional support.

[May 7, 2024, NEW YORK CITY] – Today, The Jed Foundation (JED), a leading nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, issued a report, Unraveling the Stigma: Exploring Barriers to Mental Health Support Among U.S. Teens. Stigma is widely viewed as a major barrier for those in need of mental health support, even amid increased awareness in recent years. JED’s original research, made possible by the support of the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health, investigates the extent to which stigma is a barrier in help-seeking for teens, what other barriers are present, and where youth are turning for support. The report aims to start a dialogue about what caring adults such as parents and teachers, as well as peers, can do to better support teen help-seeking behaviors.

Unraveling the Stigma is based on qualitative and quantitative research from a national sample of more than 1,500 teens ages 13 to 17. The study found that although teens are aware of the importance of mental health and seeking support, they still struggle to reach out for help, particularly if they are members of historically marginalized communities. While 74% of teens say it is a sign of strength to reach out for their mental health, 42% say they lack the words to ask for help. 

Stigma does not top the list of teens’ concerns. Instead, they are more concerned about feeling that others wouldn’t understand them, discomfort surrounding emotional conversations, and perceived fear of being a burden to others. 

Additional research findings include:

• Certain stigma-related barriers are higher among Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, Black/African American, and LGBTQ+ teens, reducing their tendency to reach out for support compared to peers surveyed in the study.
• Teens are more likely to seek out support from parents first, followed by friends and other family members.
• Teens prefer that adults listen to their mental health concerns without judgment and keep conversations confidential, whenever possible.
• Teens who seek out support online are most likely to use TikTok (43%), YouTube (39%), and Instagram (38%).
• More than half (59%) of teens are most likely to reach out to an adult if they are worried about a friend being suicidal, but only 43% are most likely to reach out if they, themselves, are suicidal.

“The stigma attached to mental health challenges is widely viewed as a major barrier for those in need of help, but its relevance to teens and young adults has not been studied in depth,” said John MacPhee, JED CEO “Each new generation forms their own perspectives on mental health and where they can turn for support. It’s important for us to focus on young people today and help them overcome the barriers they face. Supportive adults can better understand and enable teens to share their feelings and access the help they need.”

To synthesize the findings, JED created a continuum of barriers to seeking support, outlining what stands in the way of young people reaching out for help, including:

• Stigma: Feeling shame about their emotions
• Stigma-related barriers: Fears of being perceived as weak and damaging their reputation 
• Other barriers: Social, structural, and situational concerns, such as not having anyone to talk to or distrust in support systems 

The report also features a roadmap for supportive adults to help protect the young people in their lives. The report calls for improving education about mental health resources and educating adults to understand and address barriers teens face so they can initiate open and honest conversations with young people.

“This research underscores the top concerns holding teens back from asking for mental health support,” said Joan Steinberg, President of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and CEO of the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health Advisory Board. “We need to answer that call in two ways. The first is to be there, listen non-judgmentally, actively engage in their mental wellness journey, and seek professional help if needed. The second is to refresh our understanding and narrative around stigma, address the real barriers for seeking help, and build positive, supportive environments that help teens to prioritize their mental well-being.” 

To discuss important findings from the research and how parents and other adults can better enable teens to have open conversations about their mental health, JED and the Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health will be hosting a virtual webinar, Beyond Stigma: Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors in Teens, on May 9, 2024, from 12:00 PM –1:00 PM EST. Register for the webinar.

View and download Unraveling the Stigma: Exploring Attitudes and Barriers to Mental Health Support Among U.S. Teens.

About The Jed Foundation (JED)
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. We’re partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We’re equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We’re encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
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Media Contact
Justin Barbo
Director of Public Relations, The Jed Foundation
justin@jedfoundation.org
media@jedfoundation.org

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