Currently in the U.S., children, teens and young adults are not getting the mental health treatment they need. Many are on long waiting lists, and less than half are receiving any help. According to the latest research, at least 5% of children and 9-20% of all adolescents suffer from depression, and the risk is even higher if their parents experience depression as well. Most children and teens suffering from depression and anxiety wait an average of 11 years to receive any help. Those numbers are even higher in minority populations. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of depression and anxiety have doubled. One in seven parents have reported worsening mental health in their children since the pandemic began.

Faced with these facts, it's clear that timely, evidence-based prevention and help for depressed and anxious children, teens and young adults is an absolute must. That is why the COPE Programs were created. COPE understands young people's needs and stressors, and offers access to education and skills-building exercises to help prevent and manage negative and distressing emotions while enhancing healthy behaviors. 

The COPE Programs use a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-based skills-building approach that includes reducing negative or unhelpful thoughts, increasing healthy behaviors, and improving communication and problem-solving skills.

When people learn to COPE in positive ways, the brain lays down new pathways, helping them grow new neuronal connections and deal with stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms in healthy ways.

By helping individuals change their thoughts and beliefs from negative or unhelpful to positive, their feelings and behaviors naturally follow suit. Convincing children, teens and young adults that they can accomplish whatever it is that is important to them reinforces what their mind believes they can achieve. COPE helps them face their fears and take control of their emotions.