COUNCIL AT-LARGE
Youth Development & Mental Health Access
The Problem:
Our young leaders are facing a crisis that can no longer be ignored. Too many kids are spending hours isolated on social media instead of being engaged in safe, productive activities. At the same time, mental health needs are skyrocketing while services remain underfunded and difficult to access.
In North Carolina, nearly 40% of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless in 2023, and 1 in 5 seriously considered suicide. According to the latest 2025 data, nearly one in five adolescents suffers from depression, and one in ten high school students reports attempting suicide.
Families often wait weeks or months to get an appointment for counseling, and by then, the crisis has already grown.
Charlotte ranks among the fastest-growing cities in the nation, yet we still lack enough youth centers, after-school programs, and accessible mental health resources for families.
When kids don’t have support, the consequences show up in our neighborhoods, in higher rates of youth violence, school dropouts, and families stretched beyond their breaking point.
Will’s Plan:
Will plans to support more Youth Centers & After-School Programs. This Gives kids positive outlets instead social media, wrong path opportunities, exposure to drugs and violence and poor decisions. but with access to sports, arts, and mentorship programs, our youth will be stronger leaders for our future.
Will is also committed to expanding city funding for counseling, crisis intervention, and family mental health services. He supports putting more counselors directly into schools and neighborhoods so families don’t have to wait months or drive across town to find help. No one should be turned away or left waiting when they ask for mental health support.
We are beginning to break down the stigma around mental health, but there is still more work to do. Families should never have to struggle in silence. They should feel equipped to talk openly about mental health with their children and recognize the signs of struggle before it turns into crisis.
Stronger Outreach & Awareness
Services are only useful if families know how to find them. Will will champion better outreach, clear communication, and community awareness campaigns so families know where to turn in times of need.
Why This Matters: If we want a better future for Charlotte, we must invest in our youth and ensure that mental health isn’t ignored.
