Family Health

Talking about mental health can be hard! It should be a state of well-being for all of us. Black and Latino teens have 1.5 to 3 times greater chances of having unmet mental health needs.

Depression and anxiety are rising. Female and LGBTQ+ teens are even more likely to feel these. And judgment from others may cause some to deny help.

Here are a few ways to stay on top of your mental health game.

Handle pressure and tough feelings

• Try taking a break from your socials.
• When in doubt, dance it out!
• Try a moment of mindfulness. Take slow, deep breaths. How does your body feel? How is your energy? All emotions are okay. Now choose something you are thankful for. Let it anchor you. How can you honor yourself today? Thank yourself.

Connect with people

• Talk to someone you trust.
• See a doctor or join a support group.
• Find purpose outside of yourself. Volunteer with groups that:
• Clean up city or county parks.
• Hand out food or clothes at shelters.
• Take care of animals at the shelters.

Need more support?

Try these free resources:

• Crisis Text Line: 24/7 online chat at crisistextline.org or text 741741.
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 24/7 service in English and Spanish. Text 435748 or call
  1.800.662.4357.
• NAMI Helpline: Text 62640 or call: 1.800.950.6264.
• Mental Health Hotline: 24/7 service. Call 1.866.903.3787.

Categories: Mental health