This book argues that, while media literacy courses teaching students how news, media, and social media might cause or worsen mental health issues is a start, media literacy education also needs to teach young adults how to reach that help.

Scaccia explores the critical role of media literacy in helping young adults navigate the often-confusing path to mental health care. Drawing from both scholarly research and personal experience, the book argues that media is not just a potential cause of mental health challenges-it is also a crucial part of the solution. Through original interviews with young adults and mental health care providers in California's Central Valley, the book examines how media messaging, platforms, and literacy levels affect whether and how young people access care. It combines theoretical frameworks from health communication and behavior change with empirical data to reveal barriers like stigma, functional impairment, and misinformation.

At the same time, it highlights opportunities for intervention through effective messaging, trusted messengers, and culturally sensitive outreach. The book calls on educators, legislators, and health professionals to treat media literacy as a public health imperative-equipping young adults with the skills to both understand the media around them and use it to reach the help they need.