Youth Mental Health 101
Promoting Positive Mental Health
Being a young person today comes with real challenges. As awareness of youth mental health continues to grow, and more young people feel comfortable opening up about their struggles, it’s more important than ever to understand how we can all play a role in supporting positive mental health and overall well-being.
How do we define good mental health?
People with good mental health – both youth and adults – can:
- Navigate life’s daily challenges
- Build healthy relationships
- Experience a range of emotions (positive and negative)
- Adapt to change, feel confident and persevere through difficulties with optimism
Want to check in on your mental health? Download this Mindful Moments Checklist from the National Council on Mental Wellbeing.
How do I talk with my youth about their mental health?
Talking with a child about their mental health can be challenging due to stigma, lack of information, fear of blame and/or of a potential condition.
See resources from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on ways to speak with children as young as 5 about their mental health.
Mental Health Conditions in Youth
Childhood and adolescence are crucial periods for mental health, marked by rapid growth and brain development. During these stages, mental health conditions can appear as significant changes in how children and young people learn, behave or manage their emotions, often leading to distress and difficulties in their daily lives.
Additional Resources
Learn more about children’s mental health from the CDC.
Participate in NAMI BASICS, a self-paced learning module about mental health conditions designed for parents and caregivers.
Take a self-reported screening on a variety of mental health issues from Mental Health America. This can be an important step in identifying the need for care.