Our Why
“The youth mental health crisis is the defining
public health issue of our time.”
- Dr. Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General
Today’s youth face pressures no generation before them has known — constant comparison, instant judgment, and a digital world that never turns off.
In Sonoma County, teens have lived through wildfires, a pandemic, school disruptions, and the relentless influence of social media during their most formative years.
We show up so young people can feel grounded in who they are — online and off.
This isn’t happening somewhere else.
This is home.
We’ll be honest — the facts are hard. But they are facts we must name, because only then can we change them.
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15–24 nationwide.
- In California, the youth suicide rate is 8.9.
- In Sonoma County, it rises to 12.4
According to the 2023–2024 Sonoma County Youth Truth Survey:
- More than 1 in 10 middle and high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year.
- Over 60% report emotional struggles like anxiety, stress, and depression as barriers to learning.
The digital pressure
Social media is now nearly universal:
- 95% of teens ages 13–17 use at least one social media platform.
- Nearly half say it makes them feel worse about their body image.
- Frequent social media use is linked to higher rates of sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts.
The statistics are clear. Free to Be intervenes before crisis begins.
free to be builds confidence in Sonoma County youth,
empowering them to make healthy choices in today's ever-changing culture.