Exploring Key Concerns: Mental Health and Vaping Highlighted in Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council Needs Assessment

ALPENA — The Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council (NEMYAC) has unveiled its 2025 Youth Needs Assessment, revealing pressing concerns for local youth: mental health and vaping. This assessment will help shape grant guidelines for the next three years.

The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) manages NEMYAC, a program aimed at teaching young people about philanthropy and community engagement. Every three years, Youth Advisory Councils (YACs) across Michigan survey students to pinpoint the issues they care about most.

Jennifer Dingman, CFNEM program director, noted that students in grades eight through twelve reviewed a list of 40 topics created by youth organizations. They selected their top 10 issues based on what they believe impacts them the most. A total of 350 students participated in this opt-in survey.

The survey’s findings are crucial; they guide how grants are distributed through NEMYAC, funded by the Kellogg Youth Endowment Fund. For six years, concerns about depression, mental health, and stress have been prevalent in the results. Importantly, vaping has emerged as a growing concern among youth throughout CFNEM’s service area, which includes counties like Alcona, Alpena, Montmorency, and Presque Isle.

“There’s a lot of work needed in our community regarding mental health support and stress management,” Dingman said. “Young people are telling us vaping is an issue they want addressed within their peer groups.” She encourages local nonprofits to apply for grants to tackle these issues and more identified in the assessment.

Interestingly, trends suggest youth vaping is rising nationally, with surveys indicating that over 30% of high school students have reported current use. This highlights the urgency of the NEMYAC findings. By aligning funding with student interests, these grants may lead to more effective programs in the area.

NEMYAC aims to channel funding toward tackling these crucial concerns. “While not all grant applications need to target these specific issues, we hope this data inspires agencies to ramp up their efforts,” Dingman added.

Next month, CFNEM will discuss the feedback from the survey and decide on actionable steps based on student input. This approach reflects a growing trend in youth engagement, recognizing that understanding young people’s voices can inform better community initiatives.

For further insights on youth issues, you can check out the report from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)](https://www.cdc.gov), which highlights trends in adolescent health concerns.

Overall, this assessment gives valuable insights into what matters most to young people in Northeast Michigan and sets the stage for addressing these critical issues together.

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Local News,Northeast Michigan Youth Advisory Council Needs Assessment’s top issues include mental health and vaping