To address the mental health crisis among young people, new programs are helping them overcome stigma and connect with their peers.
According to Melinda Dubois, executive director of Mental Health Advocates of Western New York (MHA), one-third of teen boys and 57% of teen girls express persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and despair; 22% of teens say they have contemplated suicide, as well as 41% of LGBTQIA+ youth.
Governor Hochul’s recent Youth Mental Health listening tour discovered that teens do not always trust adults, and they do not think their concerns will be kept confidential. Young people want to talk with someone closer to their age that really understands what they are experiencing.
An estimated
%
of adolescents has had a mental health disorder at some point in their lives.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Mental Health. (2021).
“The Teen Chatline addresses those issues. It is completely anonymous and confidential and is fully operated by our Youth Peer Advocates, who are young adults under the age of 30 who have a lived experience,” DuBois said. “They have experienced what our youth are experiencing, and they understand on a deeper level. For youth who are struggling, who may feel alone, who don’t feel understood, the Teen Chatline is the answer.”
This new chat line, high school health fairs, and youth peer advocate activities are reducing the stigma of young people speaking out and seeking help for their mental health challenges.
Stigma among young people is the topic of a Facebook Live on Thursday, August 29 at noon. This program is free and open to the public. To address the mental health crisis among young people, new programs are helping them overcome stigma and connect with their peers. Learn about the teen chatline, and more informal initiatives that encourage young people to reach out and share their struggles with their peers.
Peg Barrett, School Advocate, MHA, says once you open the door to a child and let them know it’s safe to talk about their issues, they realize they are not alone, and they have permission to talk. Informal settings with peer advocates can eliminate shame and embarrassment.
“It’s remarkable how well kids relate to their peers, because they perceive them as themselves,” Barrett said. “Lived experience is an instant connection.”
Mental health fairs, offered at many local high schools, offer hands-on stations for yoga, calming stations or art activities. During these hands-on activities, students can talk to their peers and share their experiences.
“It’s almost like talking to a friend, and kids want to be with kids,” Barrett said. According to Barrett, there is an uptick in hiring for school social workers and programs like social/emotional groups and character-building programs into schools.
Kids Escaping Drugs Face 2 Face Program offers peers to talk with students.
Young people in recovery share their personal stories of addiction to demonstrate the real life dangers and consequences of their decisions to experiment and abuse drugs and alcohol for grades six through 12.
