I run Valvoline and work with young people every day. They’re in crisis—and we all have to try to help

I spend my days working alongside young people. At Valvoline Instant Oil Change, many of our technicians are in their first real job—fresh out of high school, figuring out who they are and what they’re capable of. What I see every day tells me something the statistics confirm: this generation is in crisis, and it didn’t happen overnight. After a more than 60% increase in youth suicide rates from 2007 to their peak in 2021, the latest CDC data shows a hopeful shift with suicide rates among 10‑ to 24‑year‑olds declining in 2022, 2023, and again in 2024. But even with this progress, rates remain far higher than they were a generation ago, and young people continue to report unprecedented levels of anxiety, loneliness, and financial stress. These numbers represent real lives. I’ve seen it up close—in the team member who needs a manager to just check in, in the technician who lights up when someone invests in their growth. Their well‑being matters not only because every life has value, but because our country needs their talent, energy, and ideas. And yet too many are struggling to find connection, purpose, and stability. I’m not a therapist or a policymaker. But I am someone who employs thousands of young Americans, and I’ve come to believe that businesses like mine can’t sit this one out. Employers who hire large numbers of young workers have a unique opportunity—and a responsibility. By creating meaningful pathways for growth and fostering communities of belonging, we can help strengthen pride, purpose, and resilience in a generation that needs it. The Forces Driving the Crisis The mental health challenges facing young people today didn’t emerge in a vacuum. Over the past two decades, the rise of social media has reshaped how young people connect, compare, and understand themselves. The CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that frequent social media use is associated with significantly higher levels of persistent