Where are youth most at risk of not thriving and why?
Surgo Health’s survey of over 4,500 youth across the US identified key upstream factors that influence young people's ability to thrive. These include factors like negative life experiences, social support and belonging, and the barriers to care when youth do need help. ThriveAtlas™ brings together 8 existing data sources outside of the survey to measure how prevalent these factors are in every community across the US. Today, 53% of youth live in a high or very high-risk county and we must take action to ensure that no matter where young people live, they have the opportunity to thrive.
Youth mental health risk is local, your data should be too.
The upstream factors that influence thriving vary dramatically across the United States, revealing stark disparities between communities. ThriveAtlas™ offers a powerful, county-level tool to measure the upstream factors at a community level putting young people at risk of thriving—such as negative life experiences, accessibility barriers, and limited support and belonging.
Whether you’re a policymaker, advocate, or funder, ThriveAtlas™ highlights where resources are needed most, while parents and youth can better understand the unique challenges their communities face. By uncovering the specific needs of each county, we empower stakeholders to close the mental health gap and create pathways for all young people to thrive.
Southern States Lead in Risk, But Challenges Span Nationwide
Southern states face the highest overall barriers to thriving, with Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, and New Mexico identified as the top five states at greatest risk. However, 3 in 4 U.S. states face "High" or "Very High" risk in at least one of the six key risk themes. This underscores an urgent need for targeted efforts nationwide to address the unique mental health challenges faced by individual states and counties.
With 53% of youth aged 10–24 living in a county with "High" or "Very High" risk in at least one of the six key risk themes, understanding the unique local drivers of youth mental health risks has never been more critical. Our data reveals that while neighboring counties may share similar overall risk levels, the factors driving these risks often vary greatly requiring tailored interventions. This level of detail is often obscured at the state or national level. For instance, in New Mexico, 2 neighboring counties reveal distinct challenges, beyond a very high risk of socioeconomic hardships:
Use Case
Unlock Targeted Solutions for Youth Mental Health by Identifying Unique Drivers of Risk in Your County
Hidalgo County, NM faces mental health care challenges due to provider shortages and accessibility barriers. Only 2 mental health care providers serve every 10,000 residents within a 50 mile radius—far below the national average of 6.6. Increasing provider access could reduce risk in this county.
Grant County, NM is impacted by social challenges including negative life experiences and limited support and belonging. Here, 37% of youth aged 10–17 report adverse childhood experiences, significantly higher than the national average of 29%. Addressing social and neighborhood factors could be the most effective way to improve youth mental wellbeing.
ThriveAtlas™ provides community level risk profiles of each county, empowering policymakers, advocacy and community organizations to design highly targeted, sustainable interventions that address the unique challenges each area faces.