A quiet crisis is unfolding around us. One in five children in the United States has a diagnosable behavioral and mental health condition, yet most never receive the treatment they need (Cole et al., 2019). For many families, the first and sometimes the only contact with the healthcare system is through a primary care provider. However, those visits often fail to identify and treat mental health concerns early. The current system is reactive, fragmented, and failing to meet rising demand. Therefore, a shift and a model that’s proactive and rooted in preventive care is urgently needed.

Wilches, N., Dominguez, G., & Khan, M. (2025). Wellbeing Framework Study: Protective Factors and Mental Health. This study explored mental health through a preventative lens, using the 5-Elements of Systemic Wellbeing Framework (secure, regulated, valued, decided, related). Two consecutive surveys with 60 questions were administered to 424 participants recruited via online platforms, flyers, and peer networks. The results highlighted "Decided" and "Related" as strong elements, while "Regulated" and "Secure" were areas of vulnerability. The study also found potential disparities across gender, race, and childhood income. The key predictive goal, "Increase Security By Improving Equity," suggests that a sense of security and fair treatment are crucial for mental wellbeing. The findings underscore the importance of proactive interventions and addressing systemic barriers to promote mental health.