The Centers for Disease Control reported that 10% of Kentucky high school students reported at least one major depressive episode during the previous 12 months; 15% reported seriously contemplating suicide, and 8% reported actually attempting suicide in the same period.   According to the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and the Surgeon General (2009), there are several community-level protective factors that help youth avoid mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, including physical and psychological safety, structure, supportive relationships, opportunities to belong, positive social norms, allowing youth to make useful contributions and feel like they matter, and opportunities for building skills (Search Institute, 2006).  Positive youth development is one of the strongest tools society has to help prevent depression, suicide, substance abuse and other indicators of adolescent mental disorders.  

Middle school and high school aged youth in the 4-H program are a focus of the Adair County Cooperative Extension Service.  4-H created new opportunities for local youth to participate in the 4-H program and give of their time and talent.

A group of teens worked to reorganize the Adair County 4-H Teen Council over the past two years. Council membership is now at over twenty youth and they are planning and conducting meetings and programs for teens. In 2019, two youth from Adair County participated in the Issue Conference and three youth participated in the 4-H Leadership Boot Camp.  Leadership Boot Camp is designed to prepare youth to apply for state-level 4-H roles.   One of the three youth who attended Leadership Boot Camp was selected to serve on the State 4-H Council and one was selected to serve on the State 4-H Shooting Sports Ambassador Board.  Seven youth attended the 2019 State 4-H Teen Council. Participation in these conferences, retreats, councils, and clubs allowed them to experience many, if not all, of these protective factors.  

Youth leadership skills are still addressed as a need for youth in our community. The Adair County Cooperative Extension Service continues sponsoring a Middle School and High School Youth Leadership Program. Over 200 youth participated in the programs in the past 10 years. Ninety percent of those participants have gotten involved in other Extension programs, school programs, and community issues.