Therapeutic Adventure as a Scalable, Accessible Solution to Maine’s Youth Mental Health Crisis

Abstract

What if Maine offered a literal out-of-the-box (or out-of-the-office) solution to youth mental wellness? What if conversations around mental health shifted away from the individual and toward community solutions? For nearly 700 kids annually in rural midcoast Maine, this innovative approach to mental wellness is the new normal. Young people find a third space with Hearty Roots, a youth organization that offers an immersive, therapeutic pathway for youth to engage, unplug from devices, and return to simple restorative time in nature. In rural Lincoln County, young people connect with land stewardship, personal wellness, peer connection, and community commitment.