While education is often seen as a pathway to success, many college students and young adults face mounting academic pressures, career uncertainty and societal challenges which has contributed to a growing mental health crisis. This has left them feeling lost, anxious and overwhelmed about their futures. Without proper support, many find themselves navigating these challenges alone and questioning their ability to succeed. Recognizing this crisis, College Park Professor Carol Graham, a senior fellow at Brookings and a Gallup senior scientist, is underscoring the need for mentorship and community-driven initiatives to address young people’s mental well-being and help them reclaim their sense of hope and agency.
“What is often missing in the lives of anxious young adults is guidance and mentorship on how to go forward and find paths toward achieving their expectations,” Graham said. She highlighted several programs that have shown promise in equipping students with essential skills and the confidence to take control of their futures.
In her recent American Educator article, “The Kids Are Not OK, But Education Innovations Provide Hope,” Graham highlights initiatives that provide students with critical support to navigate mental health challenges and succeed in their academic and personal lives. In the U.S., Youthful Savings teaches high school students financial literacy, ethical business practices and mental wellness skills—empowering them with knowledge that increases their likelihood of pursuing higher education. In the U.K., #BeeWell is a program that integrates self-esteem building, mental well-being strategies and anti-loneliness initiatives into middle and high school curriculums, with active input from parents and local communities.
Beyond education, Graham pointed to emerging trends in mental health treatments, such as peer-supported programs like Pittsburgh’s Visible Hands Collaborative, which provides community-based encouragement for seeking mental health care.
Graham emphasized the critical role colleges and universities play in fostering constructive dialogue during a time of deep societal polarization. “Colleges and universities should aim to be safe spaces for such discussion, and many do, but we have lost sight of that in the debates that ensued from the Israel-Gaza conflict,” she said. She argued that prioritizing respectful discourse could help students develop resilience in uncertain times.
Families and communities, she added, must also play a role in breaking cycles of despair by ensuring young people have access to mentorship and clear pathways to success—whether through traditional college education or vocational training. “But kids need to know about them and how to access them,” said Graham.
Graham emphasizes that resilience is key for young adults, reminding them that setbacks do not define success. “Our mythical American Dream narrative leaves out that most successful people had some luck and those who failed likely had some bad luck,” she said. “Do not consider yourself a failure when things don’t work out. But do get back up and try again!”
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