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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
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surrounding areas. Adolescents in this particular age bracket are prone to vulnerability as a result of
continuing brain development as well as undergoing important life experiences, including
changing schools and identity development. In New York, 272,000 young people suffer from
depression in a year, while 170,000 young people have suicidal tendencies. Approximately 50% of
the teens in NYC experience symptoms of depression of varying degrees (NAMI, 2025).
There exist disparities within this target population and social issue. Black, Hispanic, and
biracial youths have been known to experience more psychological stress and unmet mental health
needs than their white counterparts (New York City Health, 2024). Economic status is an important
consideration since youths from economically disadvantaged families are constrained in access to
services by financial and provider constraints. Over 3.6 million residents in New York City reside
in neighborhoods without adequate numbers of mental health specialists, affecting marginalized
groups disproportionately (NAMI, 2025). Differences by gender can be observed as well, with
females demonstrating greater connections between lifestyle disruptions and depression
symptoms, and males connecting money troubles to emotional dysregulation (De France et al.,
2022).
Some unique features about this group include high rates of adverse childhood experiences
and the lasting impacts of isolation due to the pandemic. Fourteen percent of youths in New York
aged between 0 and 17 years have experienced two or more adverse childhood experiences that
lead to mental disorders (NAMI, 2025). The youth use social media to connect with others, but they
also feel stressed and depressed because of their use (New York City Health, 2024). This makes the
need for an intervention program that is culturally aware, trauma-informed, and able to be accessed
across different environments.
A2: Community Input
The method for acquiring and analyzing community input is multifaceted to ensure the
program incorporates the requirements of all community members. I will use various engagement
methods, including focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and anonymous surveys of
stakeholders and institutions. Input will be analyzed using qualitative thematic coding and
quantitative analysis of survey results to determine priorities and barriers. The strategy will provide
continuous feedback throughout the program, planning, development, and implementation.
The three primary stakeholders are school administrators, parents and family members, and
adolescents themselves. School administrators will help to implement the program in school
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
, 3
surrounding areas. Adolescents in this particular age bracket are prone to vulnerability as a result of
continuing brain development as well as undergoing important life experiences, including
changing schools and identity development. In New York, 272,000 young people suffer from
depression in a year, while 170,000 young people have suicidal tendencies. Approximately 50% of
the teens in NYC experience symptoms of depression of varying degrees (NAMI, 2025).
There exist disparities within this target population and social issue. Black, Hispanic, and
biracial youths have been known to experience more psychological stress and unmet mental health
needs than their white counterparts (New York City Health, 2024). Economic status is an important
consideration since youths from economically disadvantaged families are constrained in access to
services by financial and provider constraints. Over 3.6 million residents in New York City reside
in neighborhoods without adequate numbers of mental health specialists, affecting marginalized
groups disproportionately (NAMI, 2025). Differences by gender can be observed as well, with
females demonstrating greater connections between lifestyle disruptions and depression
symptoms, and males connecting money troubles to emotional dysregulation (De France et al.,
2022).
Some unique features about this group include high rates of adverse childhood experiences
and the lasting impacts of isolation due to the pandemic. Fourteen percent of youths in New York
aged between 0 and 17 years have experienced two or more adverse childhood experiences that
lead to mental disorders (NAMI, 2025). The youth use social media to connect with others, but they
also feel stressed and depressed because of their use (New York City Health, 2024). This makes the
need for an intervention program that is culturally aware, trauma-informed, and able to be accessed
across different environments.
A2: Community Input
The method for acquiring and analyzing community input is multifaceted to ensure the
program incorporates the requirements of all community members. I will use various engagement
methods, including focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and anonymous surveys of
stakeholders and institutions. Input will be analyzed using qualitative thematic coding and
quantitative analysis of survey results to determine priorities and barriers. The strategy will provide
continuous feedback throughout the program, planning, development, and implementation.
The three primary stakeholders are school administrators, parents and family members, and
adolescents themselves. School administrators will help to implement the program in school
