1
D628: Public Heath Graduate Capstone
Task 2: Community Public Health Program
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A: Summary of Issue
Adolescents and emerging adults in New York State are facing increased mental health
disorders, such as anxiety and depression. This situation has been exacerbated by the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic and persists in the post-pandemic era. There are risk factors at various levels.
Access to care is hampered by socioeconomic factors like poverty, scarcity of providers, and
financial constraints. Behavioral factors comprise a lack of social interaction and an inability to
cope with stress caused by disruption in their lifestyles. Biological factors comprise brain
maturation during adolescence, which increases exposure to stress. More than 272,000 adolescents
suffer from a major depressive disorder in New York annually, and 170,000 have suicidal thoughts
per year (NAMI, 2025). Almost half of the teens living in New York City suffer from depression
(New York City Health, 2024).
Quantitative data highlights the extent of the issue because more than 3.27 million adults
within the state suffer from mental disorders, and 783,000 are affected by serious mental illnesses
(NAMI, 2025). According to De France et al. (2022), stressors caused by the pandemic resulted in
escalated increases in anxiety and depression symptoms. Qualitative data shows that the youth are
more worried about their future, feel socially isolated, and resort to social media to cope with their
problems, which may lead to depression (New York City Health, 2024). Adverse childhood
experiences affect 14% of young people aged 0-17 years old in New York state (NAMI, 2025). The
statistics reflect a large-scale problem along with serious service shortages.
A call for immediate action is required at this juncture. There are many instances where
youth in New York state have gone through mental struggles due to a lack of access and stigma
related to mental issues. The interaction of both pandemic and systemic factors results in this
vicious cycle that adversely affects academic performance, family relations, and individual well-
being. The integration of quantitative data on the prevalence rate of the problem with qualitative
descriptions of daily stressors reveals that although the problem occurs in diverse communities, it
mostly affects those who are vulnerable, thus requiring effective programs capable of tackling
these risk factors.
A1: Demographic Information
The target population for the program includes teens and young adults aged 12 to 24 years
old in the state of New York. This particular population is made up of many races, ethnicities, and
socioeconomic backgrounds, with many coming from major cities such as New York City and the
D628: Public Heath Graduate Capstone
Task 2: Community Public Health Program
, 2
A: Summary of Issue
Adolescents and emerging adults in New York State are facing increased mental health
disorders, such as anxiety and depression. This situation has been exacerbated by the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic and persists in the post-pandemic era. There are risk factors at various levels.
Access to care is hampered by socioeconomic factors like poverty, scarcity of providers, and
financial constraints. Behavioral factors comprise a lack of social interaction and an inability to
cope with stress caused by disruption in their lifestyles. Biological factors comprise brain
maturation during adolescence, which increases exposure to stress. More than 272,000 adolescents
suffer from a major depressive disorder in New York annually, and 170,000 have suicidal thoughts
per year (NAMI, 2025). Almost half of the teens living in New York City suffer from depression
(New York City Health, 2024).
Quantitative data highlights the extent of the issue because more than 3.27 million adults
within the state suffer from mental disorders, and 783,000 are affected by serious mental illnesses
(NAMI, 2025). According to De France et al. (2022), stressors caused by the pandemic resulted in
escalated increases in anxiety and depression symptoms. Qualitative data shows that the youth are
more worried about their future, feel socially isolated, and resort to social media to cope with their
problems, which may lead to depression (New York City Health, 2024). Adverse childhood
experiences affect 14% of young people aged 0-17 years old in New York state (NAMI, 2025). The
statistics reflect a large-scale problem along with serious service shortages.
A call for immediate action is required at this juncture. There are many instances where
youth in New York state have gone through mental struggles due to a lack of access and stigma
related to mental issues. The interaction of both pandemic and systemic factors results in this
vicious cycle that adversely affects academic performance, family relations, and individual well-
being. The integration of quantitative data on the prevalence rate of the problem with qualitative
descriptions of daily stressors reveals that although the problem occurs in diverse communities, it
mostly affects those who are vulnerable, thus requiring effective programs capable of tackling
these risk factors.
A1: Demographic Information
The target population for the program includes teens and young adults aged 12 to 24 years
old in the state of New York. This particular population is made up of many races, ethnicities, and
socioeconomic backgrounds, with many coming from major cities such as New York City and the
