Providing Support Is the First Step in Mental Health Action for Teens
Nearly half of parents said their teen showed signs of a new or worsening mental health condition since the start of the pandemic. Teenagers have shown a willingness to acknowledge and discuss their mental health struggles but for awareness to be useful, it must lead to action.
And for teens, the key to taking mental health action is being given the necessary support and resources to feel empowered. This is why these companies and organizations are providing teenagers with the necessary tools to tend to and prioritize mental wellness in their lives.
For Mental Health Action Day, Half the Story is teaming up with youth communities and teen creators to provide digital wellness resources on social media created to empower teens to take a “Brain Break” and replace their phones with screen-free activities between Zoom Classes. They are also partnering with Chillhouse in NYC to implement phone lockers in the space, where individuals can leave their phones and pledge to spend a day screen free for a $1 donation.
Peer Health Exchange has developed selfsea, an app which provides young people with support, resources, and young adults sharing their own experiences with mental health. Selfsea was specifically designed with young people to ensure it is a place where they can “see themselves reflected within a supportive and inclusive community that prioritizes their identity and experiences about mental health, sexual health, and beyond.”
For parents struggling to support their teen’s mental health, SilverCloud Health has Supporting an Anxious Teen. The online program is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that provides parents with strategies to support teens experiencing anxiety, as well as the tools to deal with their own anxiety. They also have Space From Anxiety, a program that helps users manage feelings of anxiety in productive and healthy ways.
Other partners include Youth on Record, Teens4TeensHelp, Teen line, and the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide.
Without the proper support and care, most teens will feel powerless in taking action to maintain their mental health. But on Mental Health Action Day, we can provide young people everywhere with the resources that will empower them to be their own mental health advocates.
Need help now?
If you’re struggling and need to talk to someone, you’re not alone. There are lots of free, confidential resources available 24/7.
