What Nevada Gets Wrong (and Right) About Teen Mental Health Policy

When it comes to mental health, especially for teens, Nevada is a state of contradictions. On one hand, it’s made headlines for its poor rankings in youth mental health access. On the other, it’s passed some surprisingly progressive legislation that shows the state is trying. But are those efforts enough?

As a high school student passionate about public health and policy, I’ve looked into where Nevada stands, and where it still needs to show up for teens like us.

According to Mental Health America’s 2023 Youth Ranking, Nevada was ranked 48th out of 51 (including D.C.) for overall youth mental health. That means our state has one of the highest rates of youth with mental health issues and one of the lowest levels of access to care.

Some quick stats:

• Over 60% of youth with major depression in Nevada do not receive any mental health treatment.

• Nevada has a shortage of school-based mental health professionals, often failing the recommended ratio of 1 counselor per 250 students.

Several deep-rooted challenges explain why Nevada continues to fall behind when it comes to teen mental health. One of the biggest issues is a persistent shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural parts of the state. In some areas, there are no child psychiatrists available at all, leaving entire communities without specialized care for young people. Even where services do exist, many families face another major hurdle: insurance coverage. Therapy can be expensive, and limited coverage options make mental health care inaccessible for too many teens who need it most. There’s also the lingering weight of stigma, particularly in more conservative or underserved communities, where talking about mental health is often seen as a weakness or taboo. That stigma silences many teens before they even get the chance to ask for help. To make matters worse, schools, often the first place students turn for support, are stretched thin. Teachers and staff want to help, but underfunded districts and overloaded counselors make it nearly impossible to give every student the attention they deserve.

https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/teen-emergency-room-visits/

Nevada isn’t ignoring the teen mental health crisis entirely. In fact, the state has taken some promising steps forward in recent years. One major win came with the passage of SB354 in 2021, which requires all schools to have clear suicide prevention plans in place. It also mandates staff training to recognize warning signs and respond appropriately, making mental health awareness a legal responsibility, not just a suggestion.

Another meaningful improvement has been the expansion of telehealth services, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state eased restrictions that once limited access to virtual therapy and counseling. This shift has been especially impactful in rural communities, where in-person providers are scarce. Teens who once had to drive hours, or go without help altogether, can now access care from home. Nevada has also begun introducing mobile crisis teams in certain school districts. These rapid-response units are trained to support students facing acute mental health emergencies, stepping in before situations escalate. Importantly, they offer an alternative to involving law enforcement, which can often be traumatic and counterproductive for teens in crisis.

These changes are a start, but they’re not enough. Nevada still has a long way to go in building a truly supportive mental health system for young people. For one, the state urgently needs to invest in more school-based mental health professionals, including counselors, social workers, and psychologists,so students can get timely help from adults who are trained to understand their struggles.

Equally important is ensuring insurance coverage for mental health care that doesn’t leave families stuck with hidden costs or coverage gaps. Care should be accessible, affordable, and comprehensive.

Beyond funding, Nevada should also launch statewide campaigns aimed at reducing the stigma around mental health, particularly in high schools, where cultural pressures and silence can make things worse. And perhaps most importantly, state leaders must actively include youth voices in policy conversations. No one understands what teens are going through better than teens themselves.

Citations

Mental Health America. (2024). The State of Mental Health in America 2024 Report.https://mhanational.org/research-reports/2024-state-mental-health-america-report

Nevada Legislature. (2021). Senate Bill No. 354: Revises provisions relating to pupil safety and suicide prevention.https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/81st2021/Bill/7965/Text

Nevada Current. (2021). Legislature approves permanent expansion of telehealth services.https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2021/05/27/legislature-approves-permanent-expansion-of-telehealth-services/

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT).https://knowcrisis.com

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Nevada. (2023). Youth & Young Adult Mental Health Resources.https://naminevada.org/resources/youth-and-young-adults