A rizona leaders, advocates, and youth gathered last month for Stronger Together: Safe Minds, Safe Communities – an East Valley Teen Mental Health and Violence Prevention Summit.

As the teen mental health and violence crisis rises, speakers called for accountability, strengthened support systems, and action that is proactive rather than reactive.

The summit was not just a discussion, but a response to a growing crisis in youth safety and well-being.

According to the 2024 Arizona Youth Survey by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, 17.8% of surveyed 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in Maricopa County reported feeling unsafe in their school. 43.6% reported seeing someone bullied at school.

Addressing both physical and mental safety, the main priority for change emphasized by advocates an

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