Every aspect of American life is being scrutinized, politicized, and altered under the Trump administration. Amid these challenges, editors, physicians, designers, and guests gathered to tackle one of the most pertinent issues facing Americans: mental health. On Sunday, June 2, New York-Presbyterian's Center for Youth Mental Health held its annual benefit, where Charlie Shaffer, MD, spoke with Senator Chris Murphy about the current developments on Capitol Hill.
“I think the burden is on the profession to pull yourselves outside of the medical model and really challenge policymakers when it comes to the societal factors that drive mental illness,” Murphy told the intimate crowd, which included Anna Wintour, Tory Burch, and Christopher John Rodgers.
“I believe that no social media company should allow any kid under 13 to have access to these sites,” Murphy continued. “I don't think the algorithm should turn on until you're 18. I think it's the equivalent of a cigarette — this algorithm that just feeds you more and more polluted content.”
Murphy was referring to research that has been done on the relationship between social media and mental health. He also raised concerns about the GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which would put 8.6 million Americans at risk for not having Medicaid coverage that includes mental health care.
Coincidentally, the Center for Youth Mental Health event — co-sponsored by Vogue — took place the day before Murphy announced the launch of a new political action committee to oppose President Trump's agenda and seek to “mobilize those who want to push back against the administration.” In a post to X, Murphy said that “mobilization needs infrastructure. It needs organizers, technology, and logistics support.”
The Trump administration is currently increasing ICE arrest quotas, swinging tariff rates, eliminating climate change initiatives, and scrutinizing the humanity of trans people. All of these factors and more affect the mental health of young people, which Murphy acknowledged during the talk.
“You've got to build a consistent and uninterrupted system of care,” Murphy explained, “but you also have to get serious about the exposure to violence in our cities.”
He said further, “You have to get serious about regulating social media. You have to understand the links between intense poverty — and I think many are doing that, but it is not always the number one, two, or three bullet points for providers and professionals coming to Washington. So that is certainly something that could help us act on, I think, what we are admitting to be a really comprehensive set of factors that contribute to kids' mental illness.”
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