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Youth Mental Health in Las Vegas: Understanding Resource Availability and Preferences (2021)

Born This Way Foundation commissioned Benenson Strategy Group to conduct 314 online interviews with 13-to-24 year olds in the Las Vegas metropolitan area from March 29 to May 28, 2021. This survey serves as a two-year comparison that explores the state of youth mental health in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, highlighting changes in the prioritization of mental health, access to coping resources, and the preferences of who they confide in when dealing with a crisis. The report also includes a directory of actions, resources, and local organizations young people in the Las Vegas area can turn to for support.

Highlights include:

  • Young people need affordable mental health resources. Young people in the Las Vegas area report cost as the greatest barrier to finding support. 
  • Young people want to show up for themselves and others. 80% of respondents are comfortable taking classes that teach skills to support mental wellness. 
  • Young people need accessible mental health resources. Las Vegas area youth share their mental health is a priority (85%) but almost one-in-three respondents say they rarely or never have access to resources to deal with issues including bullying, suicidal ideation, sexual harassment, or online harassment.
  • Peer support skills matter. Respondents share they are feeling more “anxious” (60%) than in past years, and they turn to each other for support with 71% of survey takers saying they rely on peers and friends rather than mental health professionals.
  • We must model and encourage open, honest conversations about mental health. Nearly half of all respondents and 63% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported they rarely or never have conversations about mental health.
  • We must address the “second pandemic” of mental health. 46% of respondents knew someone who attempted or died by suicide, compared to 37% who knew someone who died of COVID-19. A majority of Black (62%) and LGBTQ+ youth (52%) knew more people in their community who attempted or died of suicide last year than of COVID-19 (39% and 43% respectively).

Find the full report below.