by Laine Himmelmann
On Sept. 30, Blue Shield of California and nonprofit organization Wellness Together awarded the 2025 Mental Health Innovator Award to California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, during the ninth annual Wellness Together Conference in San Diego.
“Supporting youth mental health is a critical need in California and a priority for Blue Shield Behavioral Health,” said Sarah Summer, vice president of behavioral health at Blue Shield of California. “We are proud to honor First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, whose advocacy has been instrumental in shaping a healthier future for all of California’s youth.”
Summer continued: “From the First Partner’s California for ALL Kids campaign — which spans food security, outdoor education, literacy and mental health — to her efforts to support and leverage historic state investments like the landmark $4.7 billion Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, she’s helped expand access to critical services. Her commitment to creating inclusive, trauma-informed environments, prioritizing support for historically underserved students, and reaching young people furthest from opportunity sets a powerful vision and a critical standard for all of us.”
The Wellness Together Conference — which brought together nearly 2,000 school and district leaders, mental health providers and policymakers — is described by organizers as the world’s largest student mental health advocacy conference. The Mental Health Innovator Award, presented jointly by Blue Shield of California and Wellness Together, honors an outstanding champion for advancing youth mental health access, awareness and advocacy — the three core tenets of Blue Shield’s BlueSky youth mental health initiative.
A deep commitment to youth mental health
"I am truly humbled to accept the Mental Health Innovator Award,” shared Siebel Newsom. “For me, as a mother of four, protecting our children’s mental health is the most important thing in my life. My children and my family are my center, and I work hard, like so many of you, to intentionally bring a sense of stability and security to their daily lives in a world that feels anything but stable.”
During her remarks, Siebel Newsom highlighted the importance of addressing youth mental health beyond policy. She shared examples including the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and the California Community Schools Partnership Program, which are expanding how young people access care. She also pointed to partnerships with California State Parks’ Adventure Parks Pass and California State Libraries’ Library Parks Pass to promote nature and literacy, and the launch of the Men’s Service Challenge — an initiative calling on 10,000 men to serve as mentors and role models. These efforts, she noted, are part of a broader cultural shift to create environments where all children feel seen, supported and empowered to thrive.
New poll shows a growing mental health crisis in the digital age
Siebel Newsom also acknowledged the challenges of parenting and growing up in a digital landscape. “I can’t emphasize enough that the concern goes beyond addiction to devices,” she said. “It’s about the danger of being connected 24/7 to the endless stream of harmful rhetoric that normalizes hate, amplifies fear and too often makes our children feel unsafe, unseen and never enough.”
A new poll released during the conference by Blue Shield of California’s BlueSky youth mental health initiative and Children Now echoed these concerns.
The BlueSky Youth Mental Health Survey polled 750 California youth ages 14 to 25 from urban and rural communities across the state. It found that 94% of Gen Z youth report experiencing regular mental health challenges, with affordability, climate change, gun violence and discrimination rising up as top concerns. Additionally, 56% of Gen Z youth report spending more than four hours a day on social media, with nearly two-thirds saying social media is their primary source of news.
The importance of partnerships and connection
“Despite challenges, youth are coping by connecting and taking positive action, and 63% report still being optimistic about the future,” said Dr. Nicole Stelter, Blue Shield of California’s director of behavioral health, who presented on multiple panels about the BlueSky Youth Mental Health Survey during the Wellness Together Conference. “The theme of this year’s conference was connection and partnerships, and it’s those very partnerships that give me hope for what’s ahead.”
Dr. Stelter continued, “As First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom said so powerfully — partnership is the only way forward, and the only way we can truly confront today’s crisis of disconnection and despair.”
Since launching BlueSky, Blue Shield of California has supported Wellness Together in providing nearly 30,000 counseling sessions for students in San Diego and Alameda counties, with a special emphasis on getting mental health support to underrepresented youth.
BlueSky is a multi-year effort to promote emotional well-being for young people across California, providing on-campus and online mental health services, educator training and youth-driven advocacy programs. To learn more, visit BlueSky.BlueShieldCA.com
To learn more about Blue Shield of California’s work to make health care more affordable, click here.