As we look back on 2024, it's clear that this year will be remembered for its highs and lows, profound global shifts, and a pervasive sense of uncertainty. Amidst these challenges is a strong undercurrent of hope and opportunity in the realm of mental healthcare.

Dr. Vivek Murthy has called for a formal Surgeon General warning that social media harms adolescents and issued a clarion call for Congressional action, adults limiting exposure, and other measures. For those of us involved in children’s health and mental health, this is welcome news.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we are reflecting on the strides made, and also the long road ahead, in ensuring access to high quality mental health care for all Americans.

I am keenly aware that children thrive when they can relate to positive adult role models who see and understand them. This builds a strong sense of belonging, a belief that their emotional and physical needs will be met, and a sense of empowerment.

Given the profound impact of outdoor time on children, particularly vulnerable children, it has been extremely heartening to witness how the newly inaugurated Golden Gate Parks Conservancy’s Tunnel Tops supports the emotional, physical, and social development of the Bay Area’s diverse children.

When I was 15 years old, my family traveled to Israel. To this day, I remain inspired by the Israeli culture of ingenuity, pragmatism and compassion. This unique mix can be seen even in how Israel approaches children’s well-being. A family-centered society, Israel cherishes children and their emotional health.

With collaborative action, we can address California’s youth mental health crisis. The health of our youngest and most vulnerable residents depends on it, and in turn, the healthy development of our State and society depends on it.

It is a dream come true to see the near-opening of the Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry building, after two decades of collaboration with the University of California, San Francisco.

This Mother’s Day, 15 months into a pandemic that has disproportionately impacted mothers, I am reflecting on the extraordinary role that women play in families, communities, and society. I tip my hat to all the mothers who have courageously weathered this past year.

The leaders of arts institutions and artists themselves have been indefatigable this year. On a dime, they adapted to a new reality in which income from classes, ticket sales, visits and events nearly disappeared. Fortunately, artists are inherently creative and expansive in their thinking about how and where to reach audiences and now find us in our living rooms, on Zoom.

Although the pandemic exposed the very harsh inequities in our society, it also has led to real and necessary conversations about what needs to change. From health care to the arts, in every institution there is a robust conversation about what we will do to create more inclusivity and a sense of belonging, and how decisions will be made to focus on the needs of the communities we serve.