Since our founding shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Upswing Fund for Adolescent Mental Health has provided grants and resources to 92 organizations that served two million adolescents in 2021 alone.

In 2022, Upswing continued its commitment to adolescents of color and LGBTQ+ youth. Today, we are proud to share an overview of the collective impact of The Upswing Fund and our partners in our 2022 Impact Summary.

While there is much progress to celebrate, we are mindful that the growing trend of mental health challenges for our youth—uncovered and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—is far from over. Indeed, the most recent CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey confirms a continuing mental health crisis that includes “ongoing and extreme distress” among teens who identify as LGBTQ+, and we feel an increased sense of urgency to support vulnerable youth.

Alarmingly, the survey shows that in 2021 alone:

• Almost 60% of U.S. teen girls experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year and nearly 25% made a suicide plan.
• LGBTQ+ youth were significantly more likely to be victims of all forms of violence and close to 70% of LGBTQ+ students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
• While less likely to report poor mental health, Black students were significantly more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.

In the midst of this crisis, our grantee partners’ dedication and expertise give us hope that with increased investment, community-based organizations can continue empowering youth to prioritize their mental health and make meaningful connections that enable them to thrive.

Together, we have an opportunity to build on the progress to date—and there is so much more to do to help marginalized youth access essential mental health services.

If you're interested in contributing to the momentum this year and beyond, please contact us at [email protected]