Millions of young people are struggling with diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health issues, and many parents feel ill-equipped to manage their children’s mental health care needs.

Research shows the number of young people with mental health conditions has increased by 28% since 2018, and the number of young people with at least two mental health diagnoses has risen by 48% over the same period. Almost 2 in 5 – 38% – did not receive treatment within six months of their initial diagnosis. Of those who did receive treatment, a significant number were treated with medication but did not meet with a therapist.  

Improving the mental health and well-being of young people is a priority for The Cigna Group and one of our company’s key philanthropic pillars. The Cigna Group Foundation has committed $9 million over three years to partner with nonprofit organizations and support those serving and coming alongside youth. In its first year, grants were distributed to 28 organizations that work with local young people every day.

The Cigna Group Foundation’s goals for these grants include:

1. Increase the reach of programming that fosters social-emotional skills and well-being.
2. Increase the number of parents, caregivers, and youth service professionals who feel equipped to support youth who are struggling with their mental health.
3. Increase pathways to mental health interventions and access to care.

To spotlight a few of the organizations bringing this work to life, The Cigna Group Newsroom staff sat down with three of our new nonprofit partners to explore their plans to address the youth mental health crisis.

Leading with mindfulness: Expanding trauma-informed social-emotional learning

Mindfulness First is driven by a mission to teach children and adults practical skills that improve their mental health and well-being. As its name suggests, the organization has spearheaded the use of mindfulness as a practice in the classroom since 2013, promoting the integration of mental health education within schools through its trauma-informed, mindfulness-based social-emotional learning programs.

The organization, which serves the communities of Maricopa County, Arizona, employs an approach that aligns with a growing body of research highlighting the long-term health benefits of mindfulness practices. Mindfulness First’s evidence-based curriculum includes lessons and themes that teach about the correlation between brain science and stress and offers techniques to manage big thoughts, feelings, and emotions. These lessons teach trauma-informed mindfulness and nurture strong social-emotional skills.

The state of Arizona grapples with a grim reality: It’s among the top 10 states for youth mental illness prevalence yet ranks 40th in access to care. Suicide is a leading cause of death among 10- to 24-year-olds in Arizona.

“This data reflects a desperate need for effective interventions to support the mental well-being of Arizona’s youth,” said Sunny Wight, co-founder and executive director of Mindfulness First. “Our programs offer a potent remedy to these challenges, empowering children to regulate stress, overcome adversity, and contribute to a healthier, happier society.”

The grant from The Cigna Group Foundation will co-fund the agency’s “Leading With Mindfulness” program to provide a full-time onsite mindfulness coach during the 2025-2026 academic year. The coach will guide students through Mindfulness First’s curricula and also give teachers the resources to teach these skills themselves. This weaves mental health wellness skills and effective coping strategies into the daily fabric of education, ultimately cultivating an emotionally intelligent population.

The ripple effect of this program cannot be understated, Wight said. Each classroom teacher has the potential to reach almost 94,000 students during a 25-year career.

Equipping local mental health providers with the tools they need to support vulnerable youth and families

Access to a behavioral health care provider is one of the top challenges young people face. Half of all mental health conditions appear before age 14, and 75% begin before age 24 – making early identification, intervention, and effective care critical. However, more than 160 million Americans live in areas with a shortage of mental health professionals.

This challenge is compounded for those who face health disparities due to social determinants of health, including race, income, and ethnicity, and for those who are uninsured or underinsured. In Travis County, Texas, which includes Austin, our nonprofit partner Integral Care is focused on a clear goal to address these challenges: Increase the number of youth-serving professionals who feel equipped to provide mental health support.

“Working on the ground with vulnerable youth, we’ve seen an increased demand for mental health and crisis services in Travis County, and now is the time to empower as many people as we can with the tools they need to serve our young people,” said Stacy Spencer, practice administrator at Integral Care.

Through its child and family services, Integral Care operates nonprofit mental health clinics, school-based counseling, and community programs for vulnerable youth in foster care, on probation, at risk of being removed from their home, or in emergency shelters.

The programming funded by The Cigna Group Foundation will focus on providing staffers with evidence-based clinical trainings, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, a first-line treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, which affects 30% of Integral Care’s client population. Depression, suicidal ideation, and self-injury are also significant concerns. Dialectical behavioral therapy is another effective intervention option included in Integral Care’s training plan to help support young people at acute risk of self-harm and suicide.

By investing in staff development, Integral Care aims to address the mental health needs of approximately 1,800 young people; 80% of that population is Black/African American or Hispanic and 66% live in low-income households.

A comprehensive approach to addressing critical mental health needs

Mental health care requires a personalized, empathetic approach. This is a founding principle of nonprofit partner McCall Behavioral Health Network, which serves individuals across Connecticut.

McCall provides young people and their families with a multi-disciplinary treatment team to deliver individualized care that addresses the root causes of behavioral health issues. They specialize in helping individuals heal by providing services for prevention, treatment, recovery support, and community engagement.

With the grant from The Cigna Group Foundation, McCall has expanded its adolescent services program to the Waterbury, CT, area, which includes a diverse population, many of whom face barriers to care. More than 30% of children under 18 are estimated to live below the poverty level. Because 40% of the population of Waterbury is Latine, the team will use the grant to expand its Spanish-speaking clinical team to expand access and culturally appropriate care.

“We are especially excited about this expansion to Waterbury, not only due to the high demand in the area but also because we believe that early intervention in mental health and substance use disorders can profoundly alter the trajectory of a young person’s life path for the better,” said Maria Coutant Skinner, McCall President and CEO, as well as a licensed clincial social worker. “The struggles teens face today are undeniable, and we are profoundly grateful to The Cigna Group Foundation for joining us in spreading the message that healing is possible and within reach.”

McCall never turns anyone away, regardless of their ability to pay. The organization connects families to transportation, housing services, and wraparound care. By addressing immediate needs and long-term wellness, McCall can facilitate sustained healing for adolescents and their families – preventing larger issues from taking root and allowing children to realize their full potential.

The Cigna Group Foundation has a long history of impactful partnerships with nonprofits, and these are just a few of the many organizations as part of its wider philanthrophic initatives. In 2024, The Cigna Group Foundation committeed more than $27 million in grants over three years to nonprofit organizations focused on improving youth mental health, improving veteran mental health through housing stability, and reducing barriers to health equity.