Opportunities For All: Mental Healthcare Matters for Our Youth

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. 50 percent of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24. Together with our donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation (Gulf Coast) has been working on solutions and improvements in the mental healthcare system for youth and young adults. 

The Here4YOUth Initiative of Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and Gulf Coast Community Foundation commissioned the University of South Florida (USF) to conduct a research scan of mental health services in Sarasota County for young individuals up to age 24. USF estimated the cost of untreated mental health issues in youth in Sarasota County is $86 million annually. Here4YOUth worked with behavioral health providers and researchers to strengthen supportive systems. Currently, Gulf Coast is continuing its support for mental healthcare services by staying on the cusp of trends, uplifting peer support programs and trauma-informed services.

One of these instrumental services is the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Youth Intensive Outpatient Program (Youth IOP), launched in 2023 with Gulf Coast’s support to fill a gap identified in our service system. High school students, ages 13-17, enroll in this six-week program when they need a higher level of care to help manage their symptoms, sometimes as a bridge between psychiatric hospitalization and standard outpatient services. Each week, approximately nine hours of behavioral health treatment support are given. For youth, intermediate care between outpatient and inpatient can be critical. The Youth IOP creates a positive peer group for the students, offers support groups for parents, medication management and family therapy as a part of this inclusive program.

The Youth IOP program recently presented exciting results to the Behavioral Health Stakeholders Consortium, which meets monthly to monitor the system of care while addressing trends in behavioral health. Nearly all the Youth IOP participants are at least partially meeting their goals upon discharge, and their depression scale results have improved, showing this program is effective in treating mood disorders. 

Following the Path to Mental Wellness
Stories from year one of the program bring hope. One adolescent teen was admitted for depression and suicidal ideation. Her treatment goals were improving her self-esteem and increasing her social interactions, as she felt this was triggering her depression. She participated fully in the IOP program and gained new coping and communication skills, ultimately meeting her treatment goals. On reflection, she shared that she is “more resilient than she knew” and that “when this first started, she was scared and now she is calmer.” She also has a new best friend in the program, has begun to read recreationally again, and has even been asked to return to work. 

One teenage male came to the Youth IOP with severe depression. After working with the team through individual, group, and family therapy, and with medication management, upon discharge his depression score drastically decreased. In his last treatment plan review, he noted that he is “finding a life purpose in helping the homeless” and has met all three of his goals. He is now best friends with another individual from the program, mentioned above. 

“The recent progress report on Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s Youth Intensive Outpatient Program was exciting and encouraging,” said Gulf Coast’s Director of Community Leadership Jennifer Johnston. “Youth in our community now have access to this best-practice program and are benefitting from its top-notch staff and support.  Gulf Coast’s investment in youth mental wellness is making the world brighter for these students, their families, friends, and our community.”

Cultivating Community Partners
Gulf Coast, along with key stakeholders, identified critical gaps in mental health care and supported Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System in launching the Youth Intensive Outpatient Program (Youth IOP). This proven program equips adolescents with the tools they need to thrive personally, academically, and socially.

Gulf Coast’s commitment to youth mental health reflects the growing need for behavioral health support in our community. By addressing challenges early—when symptoms first appear—we can significantly improve outcomes for young people. Programs like the Youth IOP empower teens to build brighter futures for themselves and their families. Together, with our community partners and donors, we continue to create meaningful change in the lives of our youth, ensuring they receive the care and support they deserve.

For more information, contact: 
Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion
1625 South Osprey Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34239
941-917-2660
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