Letter to the Editor: Washtenaw County Must Improve Access to Mental Health Services For Teens

by Teresa C.

According to the CDC (2025), “20 percent or nearly 1 in 5 adolescents ages 12-17 have a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition.” Every day, the number of individuals affected by mental health challenges continues to rise, while the waitlists for services grow longer and harder to access. As both a nurse and a community member, I see the toll this takes on others. Growing up, I was bullied and experienced firsthand the impact it had on me, including waiting nearly a year just to be seen by a therapist. The risk we are taking with these long delays is putting individuals at greater danger of suicide and contributing to rising numbers. By expanding the options for mental health treatment, we can not only save lives but also reduce the toll mental illness takes on individuals and communities.

Mental health is an issue that affects every community member, and we nurses experience the toll it takes. We see it not only through our own experiences, but also in our patients and their families. Nurses often face severe mental health challenges due to constantly absorbing what their patients are going through. Not being able to access help right away is a frightening issue to face. According to the University of Tulsa (2024), “Nurse burnout persisted: 56 percent of nurses experienced symptoms such as emotional exhaustion, while 64 percent felt ‘a great deal of stress’ in their roles.”

Washtenaw County must improve access to mental health resources. Schools must have therapists and regular check-ins for students at risk. Too often, people facing mental health challenges suffer silently in the background.

As community members, we should be concerned about the future of all individuals who are at risk. We want to make sure that we are doing everything possible to help especially those in school and younger individuals. The risk is greater for them because not knowing how to process emotions, lacking proper coping mechanisms, and having limited access to care puts them at an even higher risk. Being able to help provide these resources could make a tremendous difference.

We can lower the rate of those affected by these issues and reduce suicide rates. We can also improve education levels, work performance, and overall happiness by allowing people to focus properly and work more efficiently. This can truly make a difference and change the world and community we live in.

Mental health is something people in our community should never have to battle alone. Together, we must build a community where mental health care is accessible, accepted, and prioritized for everyone. Every step toward expanding support brings hope to someone who feels unseen.