Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline by texting or calling 988, or chatting at 988lifeline.org, offering free support for anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Health Authority is issuing an “urgent call for support” after a student survey found many teens are facing mental health challenges and barriers to care.
On Tuesday, OHA issued a press release highlighting findings from the organization’s Student Health Survey published earlier in 2025. The survey focuses on Oregon teens’ unmet health needs.
The survey, conducted in 2022, found that more than one-in-five Oregon eighth and 11th-graders experienced unmet mental or physical health care needs.
“The findings paint a sobering picture of the challenges youth face in accessing essential care, and the critical role adults play in helping them feel heard and supported,” OHA said in the press release on Tuesday.
Among the key takeaways from the report is students feeling “invalidated, isolated and defeated.” OHA urges support for teen mental health. According to OHA, students with unmet mental health needs often reported feeling defeated and a sense of deep isolation, “indicating a lack of accessible support systems and trusted adults.”
Another theme highlighted in the report: systemic barriers to help. OHA said student responses cited barriers such as a lack of insurance, long wait times, transportation issues and a stigma around seeking help.
One anonymous student response in the report also cited challenges seeing a school counselor, explaining, “[There is] one therapist at our school, he’s almost completely booked. This has led to me only getting 45 minutes every 2 weeks to talk about my issue, usually never getting past the question, ‘How was your week?’ …there’s no time to discuss underlying issues.”
Another common theme in the report is students feeling “dismissed or not taken seriously,” OHA said. “Without meaningful adult intervention, many students reported that their needs were ignored or minimized.”
“The data confirms what students have been saying for years: many are struggling, and they don’t feel seen,” said Tom Jeanne, deputy state health officer and epidemiologist at OHA. “Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected, and when students can’t access care, it affects every part of their lives—including their ability to learn and thrive.”
“It was really interesting to look at the different trends that we observed. In particular, some alarming ones that we noticed (were) that over 23% of Oregon eighth-grade and 11th-graders said that they have unmet physical and mental health needs,” said Alexis Zou, a Lake Oswego High School senior and a primary author of the Unmet Needs Report as a member of the Oregon Youth Data Council.
“We also noticed that these unmet health needs were associated with missed school, so that’s a really big problem that school districts are facing right now. We also observed that many students said they felt isolated or didn’t have a trusted adult that they could reach out to,” said Zou.
Based on the survey results, OHA is calling for better student support, noting the “essential” role trusted adults play in helping teens address mental health challenges.
“The report underscores the importance of fostering environments in which students feel safe discussing their health needs and adults — parents, educators and health professionals — are empowered to listen and respond effectively,” OHA said in the press release.
“Students who are struggling to address their physical and mental health needs have identified the important role adults have in accessing care and resources. From parents to teachers to doctors, the data show that many students do not feel supported or taken seriously by the adults in their lives,” the report explains.
The report also quotes a student who participated in the survey, highlighting the need for trusted adult support, with the unidentified student stating, “My parents for a while were certain that I was all right, and it took me the better part of 10 months to convince them that I needed to see a mental health professional. It took me almost threatening suicide.”
To better address student needs, the report explains, “Meaningfully addressing barriers to care requires buy-in from individuals and institutions at each point of healthcare access. Oregon youth deserve a sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure and community or
school-based health services. Students participating in the 2022 SHS also emphasize the importance of logistical and emotional support from friends, family, and trusted adults to get their health needs met. Youth voices reflect a need for shifting social norms to address the stigma around mental health and medical care, particularly among parents, caregivers, teachers, and clinicians.”
The Oregon Health Authority conducts the anonymous school survey annually – gathering responses from more than 45,000 students across the state. The survey was administered at schools between October 2022 and January 2023, OHA said.
OHA also highlighted efforts to address mental health needs by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, who recently championed investments in Oregon’s behavioral health system to promote youth social and emotional wellness and prevent youth substance use disorders.
The investments include $6 million to support school-based health centers to boost their mental health services, substance use disorder screenings and prevention programs. Another $1 million aims to support suicide prevention efforts.
Michaela Bourgeois
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