The Jed Foundation has announced a $15 million grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in support of efforts to address the mental health needs of teens and young adults.

The gift will support the foundation’s efforts to triple the number of higher education students protected by its Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention to 12 million and quickly expand its new Comprehensive Approach for High Schools to protect at least 1.2 million students. 

According to the foundation, three out of 10 young adults experienced a mental illness in 2020—a more than 42 percent increase since 2011—but more than half received no care. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults. In the past 12 months, 18.8 percent of high school students reported having serious thoughts of suicide and 25.5 percent of adults ages 18 to 24 reported having recently seriously considered suicide. Yet mental health receives just 0.5 percent of all philanthropic health spending—the lowest proportion of any area of healthcare funding. 

“Major gaps currently exist in supporting and advocating for the mental health of our youth. An infusion of capital is needed to build comprehensive and culturally-responsive systems of mental health support in our schools and communities,” says Jed Foundation CEO John MacPhee. “We greatly appreciate this milestone gift from MacKenzie Scott and her attention to youth mental health, as well as continued support from our many generous donors. The collective commitment from the philanthropic community is critical in our team’s tireless efforts to put these substantial gifts into action to protect teens and young adults.”

(Photo Credit: Getty Images/FatCamera)