More than 100 educators, mental health professionals, researchers, policymakers, advocates, and community leaders gathered at the University of Pittsburgh on July 28 for the Southwest Pennsylvania Youth Mental Health Summit, launching a statewide effort to strengthen mental health services for children and adolescents.

Hosted by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Social, Emotional, and Mental Wellbeing (PA4SEMW), the summit was the first of four regional events that will help shape recommendations for improving youth mental health systems across Pennsylvania.

“Our goal today was to bring people together to listen, learn and, most importantly, act,” said Dr. Ross Whiting, president of PA4SEMW. “Participants made it clear that Pennsylvania needs increased funding for school- and community-based services, fewer barriers to accessing care, and a stronger workforce to meet the growing demand.”

State Rep. Aerion Abney also addressed attendees, highlighting Pennsylvania’s recent investments in school-based mental health supports while emphasizing that meaningful progress will require continued collaboration across sectors. Encouraging participants to build on the expertise gathered at the summit, Abney reminded the audience, “A lot of the answers are in this room.”

A recurring message echoed throughout the day: when adults aren’t well, children aren’t well. Presenters stressed that supporting educators, caregivers, and other adults is essential to creating environments where young people can thrive. Rather than treating social-emotional learning and mental health as separate efforts, speakers encouraged participants to view them as part of a connected continuum — one that prioritizes prevention, builds resilience, and equips young people with the skills to seek support before reaching a crisis.

The Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU), one of the summit’s co-hosts, highlighted the importance of collaboration in creating supportive environments for students and families.

“Our mission is to advance equitable opportunities for every learner,” said Shannon Fagan, special projects coordinator at the AIU. “We do this by fostering supportive environments, coordinating regional resources, and eliminating barriers to success. We’re grateful to have a seat at the table as we continue building connections so students, their families, and educators can thrive in every environment.”

The summit also showcased community-engaged research and regional initiatives already making an impact, reinforcing that meaningful progress depends on partnerships among schools, health care providers, universities, community organizations, and government agencies.

“There are so many incredible people and organizations already advancing youth mental health in southwest Pennsylvania,” said Dr. Shannon Wanless, director of the University Center for Social & Urban Research at the University of Pittsburgh. “Our goal was to bring them together and create an inclusive, collective path forward.”

Insights gathered during the Southwest Pennsylvania summit, along with three additional regional summits across the commonwealth, will inform regional and statewide reports that PA4SEMW will use to advocate for policy improvements and long-term investments in youth mental health.

“As we move forward, we are committed to providing the information needed to ensure every child in every Pennsylvania community has access to the mental health supports they deserve,” Whiting said.