A Better Chicago Announces Results of New Youth Survey Revealing Trends on Mental Health, Education, Community Violence

CHICAGO (8/27/24) – Today, A Better Chicago released the results of a youth survey which revealed new findings about how young people feel they are faring in Chicago. The research, conducted in July 2024 in partnership with Global Strategy Group, analyzed data from 400 Chicago youth ages 10-24. The goal was to gain firsthand knowledge about their current views on education and career development opportunities available to them, challenges they are facing, as well as the supports and investments they believe are needed for Chicago’s young people to thrive.

Key findings include:

• A vast majority of Chicago youth (95%) are optimistic about their future, nearly all intend to graduate high school, and most plan to continue their education.
• Nearly all youth surveyed (94%) cited mental health and well-being as a problem experienced by people their age – 74% of whom said it was a major problem.
• A majority of youth (53%) have never received mental health services, and among those who haven’t, a third wish they had but likely didn’t because of access barriers.
• While abuse and trauma (96%) are seen as having the largest impact on youth’s mental health, other issues like social media, bullying, and loneliness are also factors.
• Nearly two thirds of youth (63%) say they have witnessed community violence, which most often takes the form of fights, shootings, and other violent crimes.
• Almost a quarter of youth surveyed (23%) say they witness violence weekly, with Black males and Hispanic females witnessing it the most.
• Over three quarters (76%) of youth have participated in community-based programs, which are having a positive impact.
• Youth of all ages and races overwhelmingly want more programs in their communities that focus on a wide range of skills, mentorship, and support networks.
• Depression, boredom/dislike of school, and stress are cited as the top three reasons youth believe their peers miss school days.
• Nine in ten youth believe schools are preparing them for college, but near majorities feel schools don’t focus enough on social, emotional, and financial skills, and are overfocused on standardized testing.

“The first step to creating a city where all young people can thrive is understanding directly from the source what tools they need to be successful,” said A Better Chicago CEO Beth Swanson. “This new research highlights what we’ve been seeing firsthand: investments in community programming, increased access to mental health services, and a focus on academic environments that give students the tools to succeed in the 21^st century are key to improving their long-term trajectory in life.”

The survey results released today, in conjunction with A Better Chicago’s data tool –the Youth Opportunity Dashboard (YOD) – paint a comprehensive picture of how youth around the city are doing in life. The YOD tracks data across Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods and measures 26 outcomes and milestones that span youth development. Initial findings from the YOD mirror the data revealed in the survey results showing what challenges impact overall well-being and academic success, and which supports can help young people thrive, including increased access to services and programs.

Mental Health

Chicago youth’s concerns about mental health are rising, with 94% viewing it as a problem, and 74% citing it as a major problem. Mental health concerns are especially relevant with older youth aged 20-24 with 91% considering it a major problem, up 19% from last year. A majority of youth (53%) have never received mental health services themselves – and barriers to access likely prevent those who want mental health services from getting it. A third of youth (32%) who have not received mental health services say they felt they needed support in mental health and well-being, but never received services. When facing issues or problems, youth most frequently turn to their parents or legal guardians and therapists/psychologists, highlighting the significant role dedicated adults and professionals play in a young person’s life.

Youth Disconnection From School

An early sign that a young person may face increasing challenges to their safety and success occurs when they are disconnected from their learning environment. School disconnection can happen for many reasons. Chronic absenteeism, defined as students absent 10% or more at any time of the school year, continues to be a major challenge across the city. According to data from the Illinois State Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools, chronic absenteeism is on the rise in Chicago with the rate nearly 45% in 2022 and 49% for low-income students, almost doubling since 2018. A third of youth in the survey cited depression and stress as the biggest reasons their peers are missing school, and over a quarter say anxiety, bullying, and drugs and alcohol keep their peers from attending school regularly. Youth disconnection from school for any reason can make future employment and school enrollment more difficult.

Community Violence

Nearly two-thirds of Chicago youth (63%) have witnessed community violence, and nearly a quarter (23%) say they witness violence weekly. Older youth, Black males, and Hispanic females are most likely to see violence frequently in their communities – with over a third of Black males and Hispanic females saying they witness violence on a weekly basis. Youth believe staying active and busy through school, activities, and community programs can deter their peers from engaging or being a target of violence. A majority of youth say they want to be able to participate in community-based programs both after school and on weekends.

Strategies To Improve Youth Outcomes

• Youth believe community-based programming is a strategy for mitigating many challenges they face. Those actively participating in programs outside of school are more likely to not only have an optimistic outlook on their future and more confidence in their potential, but to also have a plan to pursue a four-year college degree.
• Youth overwhelmingly want more programming that provides skills training, internships, and job opportunities. They want programs that help students get scholarships and apply for colleges, and programs that build professional and social skills. They would like schools to have more of a focus on social and emotional skills, and skills like how to budget and invest money.
• Initial findings from the Youth Opportunity Dashboard suggest that investments in young people should focus on initiatives that enhance learning proficiency and boost high school and college enrollment, such as high-dosage tutoring programs and college access organizations.
• Additionally, investing in housing stability, mental health services, and restorative justice programs is crucial for maintaining youth engagement with their educational environment and for violence prevention.

To learn more about the survey, conducted by Global Strategy Group, view the Youth Survey Findings.

To learn more about A Better Chicago, please visit https://www.abetterchicago.org/

About A Better Chicago

A Better Chicago is a venture philanthropy that invests in the most promising nonprofits helping children escape poverty. We’re a supercharger. We have provided more than $73 million in unrestricted funding and management support to help the nonprofits in our portfolio grow. Our donors want to make pivotal, well-researched investments that lift the outlook for our city.