Guest column: It’s time for West Virginia’s youth to sit at the table when discussing mental health

There’s a quiet crisis unfolding across West Virginia.

Our young people are hurting and far too often, they’re navigating it alone.

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for West Virginians ages 10 to 24. More than 60% of youth with major depression receive no treatment, and 26 counties across our state don’t have a single practicing child or adolescent psychiatrist. These are not just statistics–they’re warning signs for all of us to listen more deeply.

The truth is, we can’t talk about the youth mental health crisis in 2025 without acknowledging the shadow that COVID-19 still casts. The pandemic didn’t just interrupt school years, it disrupted trust, connection and stability. It separated young people from the anchors they depended on, while simultaneously compounding anxie