Building a Stronger Youth
Mental Health Workforce in St. Louis
STL Youth Mental Health Workforce Initiative
Strong youth mental healthcare starts with a strong workforce!
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The youth mental health workforce in St. Louis is in critical need. The mental health of St. Louis depends on a workforce that is supported, valued, and equipped to meet the needs of our youth. Our children deserve access to robust mental health care – and this begins with those who provide it.
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In response to this pressing need, the Viragh Family Foundation has launched a new initiative aimed at tackling this urgent issue in the St. Louis region. With a commitment of up to $10 million, the foundation is now accepting letters of inquiry (LOIs) for innovative, sustainable solutions that address the shortage of mental health professional serving youth.
This investment seeks to disrupt entrenched systems, address longstanding inequities, and inspire lasting, systemic change, ultimately improving access to mental health care for youth ages 5-24 in under-resourced geographies and populations.​
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Accepting applications until January 15, 2026.
We're looking to invest in new ways to address the mental health workforce shortage.
Do you have an innovative or underfunded solution?
What we hope to find
The Viragh Family Foundation has committed to making a $10 million investment toward any number of efforts that can shift the long-term outcomes which historically leave way too many children without the resources they deserve.
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Efforts may be innovative and visionary, they may be proven and underfunded, or they may facilitate the collaborative approach needed to solve this complex issue. The Foundation’s hope is these initiatives will address pressing community needs, foster sustainable impact, and combat the youth mental health workforce shortage in St. Louis City and County. Any organization may submit up to three LOIs for consideration.
The crisis of youth mental health in the region is well documented.
It's time to start investing in solutions!
​Missouri ranks near the bottom nationally for access to mental health care, with suicide ranking as the third-leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 34.
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Nearly 6 in 10 high-risk youth with major depression receive no treatment at all.
One study found St. Louis was lacking up to 150 inpatient pediatric beds for children and teens in mental health crisis. This shortage results in delayed admissions, lengthy waitlists, and extensive travel times for desperate families and young people.
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source: missouri.kvc.org