Navigating the Youth Mental Health Crisis

Fox 13’s Good Day Tampa Bay anchor Laura Moody sat down with local mother Noelle Moody and JWB’s Director of Strategic Initiatives Rebecca Albert to discuss the growing youth mental health crisis and how early intervention inside pediatric offices is helping local children and families access care sooner.

Mental health challenges often begin early:

• 50% of mental health conditions start by age 14
• 1 in 5 children experiences a mental health condition

Ms. Moody, mother of 10-year-old son, Ford, shared her family’s experience with severe behavioral challenges before Ford was identified and treated through integrated behavioral health services at Children’s Medical Center. Noelle says the support “changed the whole trajectory of our lives.” Today, the family has therapy, tools, and a safety plan that have transformed daily life.

Last year alone, JWB-funded behavioral health integration in pediatric practices resulted in:

• 23,220 children screened
• 8,889 behavioral health visits
• 2,700 children receiving services

Watch the segment in its entirety below: