Young people have the passion and power to change the world, but they are often shouldering a great burden that goes unrecognized.

It’s estimated that half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, when physical and social changes occur frequently. Worldwide, mental health conditions account for 16 percent of disease and injury for people ages 10 to 19, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15- to 29-year-olds. The problem is that many cases of mental illness among children and adolescents fail to get treated or even diagnosed.

So what can we do about this crisis?

The first step is awareness. As we recognize World Mental Health Day 2018 on October 10, there is an emphasis on helping young people try to navigate a volatile world. Below you’ll find some resources — from a community-based suicide prevention toolkit to impact-driven giving strategies — that will help guide your philanthropy in this area.

Preventing Suicide: A Community Engagement Toolkit
World Health Organization (WHO)
This guide identifies strategies for individuals to organize suicide prevention in their communities through a participatory approach. It will require a whole village.

Nature vs. Nurture: A New Approach to Childhood Mental Illness
Stanford Social Innovation Review
Research into the science of epigenetic can help families, communities, educators and policymakers develop more effective responses to childhood mental illnesses by predicting vulnerability.

Changing the Mental Health Conversation on College Campuses
Active Minds
Stigmas around mental illness often prevent students at colleges and universities from asking for help. This is why it’s crucial to change the conversation. Active Minds student members have led efforts to ensure schools have the resources and policies in place to provide relief for those who are struggling.

Reducing Childhood Trauma Through Home Visiting
Thrive Washington
Parents are the key to reducing childhood trauma. And home visitors are in one of the best positions to help parents understand events of the past and how to protect their children now and in the future.

High Impact Opportunity: Target Risky Drinking in Adolescents
The Center for High Impact Philanthropy
As part of its larger report on addressing addiction through funding, The Center for High Impact Philanthropy provides a short guide on adolescent drinking and how targeting the riskiest users, rather than focusing on overall prevention, might be the best way to go.

8 Inspiring, Young Mental Health Activists You Need to Know About
Mashable
From LGBTQ+ advocates providing crisis interventions, to a tech prodigy who created an app for young people in need of a self care, these profiles of young change-makers will inspire you.

How Seattle Children’s Hospital is Improving Mental Healthcare for Kids
Seattle Children’s
Three innovative programs addressing mental health care for young people include an access mental health line for primary care doctors, classes for mental health first aid, and a children’s clinic in the Seattle area.

Investing In Youth Mental Health Should Be a Priority
Grantmakers In Health
We have the opportunity to join the rest of the world in recognizing the unmet mental health needs of our young people. Let us invest in building a system that supports their healthy development into strong, resilient adults.

The Stigma Around Mental Health is a Global Issue
Global Citizen
Ananya Birla — Indian singer, entrepreneur, and mental health activist — talks about the stigma of mental health illnesses and the effects of on individuals living in her home country.

How Six Years of War Impacts the Mental Health of Syrian Children
Save the Children
Studies into the mental health of Syrian refugee children have shown staggering levels of trauma and distress. However, much less is known about the impact on children still inside the country, one in four of whom is now at risk of developing mental health disorders. Save the Children aims to learn more.

Racial Disparities In Mental Health Treatment Among College Kids
Healio
This post examines a Journal of Adolescent Health study that revealed how college students of color have more unmet mental health needs than their white peers. What are the root causes and what can we do to fix this disparity?

Suicide Prevention Efforts Expand Cautiously in Elementary Schools
Chalkbeat
Suicide attempts remain very rare for children under 10, but seem to be increasing. The root causes appear to be a combination of social media, increased stress from school pressure, and lack of adequate interventions. Find out how schools are trying to address this growing concern.