“I’m your friend. I’ll listen. Let’s talk.”
Teen Mental Health Awareness
STUDENT GUIDEBOOK
Table of Contents Let’s talk about mental wellness
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Create a Self-Care Plan
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Students helping students
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Lady Gaga and Prince William Highlighting Teen Mental Health Around the World
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6-7
Be aware of crisis situations
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Signs a young person may be suicidal
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When a friend is trying to harm themselves
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Community Reach Centers in the Denver metro area
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Additional Resources (back cover)
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Let’s talk about mental wellness A mental disorder or illness is a diagnosable illness that:
• Affects a person’s thinking, emotional state and behavior • Disrupts a person’s ability to work or attend school, carry out daily activities, and engage in satisfying relationships
Some disorders we might hear about are: • Attention Deficit Disorder • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity • Oppositional Defiant Disorder • Anxiety • Depression • Bipolar Disorder • Schizophrenia • Eating Disorders • Substance Use Disorders
3
Create a Self-Care Plan When you or friends are going through a tough time, identify your personal strengths and healthy supports. Make a Self-care Plan! The best self-help strategies: • Are interesting to the person who needs help • Promote a sense of comfort and satisfaction • Can be social or can be a solitary activity
A sample self-care plan for mind, body and spirit:
Resiliency is a huge factor
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Most youth pass through adolescence with relatively little difficulty despite challenges. When difficulties are encountered, youth tend to be really resilient. They thrive, increase their maturity and increase their competence!
Students helping students April, 17
“If someone did reach out to me, I would tell them that I am there for them, and that mental health is a sensitive topic to talk about. I know that everyone is different and is going through different things, but as a friend I will talk them through it and give them what they need.”
Mariana, 17
“I just would reassure them that I am there for them, and that even if I am not an expert I can talk to other people for them and help them get the support that they need – there are helplines and websites and lots of resources here at school too.”
José, 17
“It’s not something they want to share – but people should know that they are not alone – they may only think that. It’s more and more accepted to be open about it. I would make my friends know that there is a whole world out there, to break down the walls that are stopping them from enjoying their life.”
Stephanie, 16
“A big fear among people struggling with mental health is that they’re alone, but once you start opening up about your own story, they open up to you back and aren’t afraid anymore.”
5
https://bornthisway.foundation/mental-wellness/ Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta founded the Born This Way Foundation in 2012 with the goal of creating a kinder and braver world. It seeks to support the mental and emotional wellness of young people by putting their needs, ideas and voices first. Find out more by visiting the Foundation’s website above.
“There is a lot of shame attached to mental illness, but it’s important that you know that there is hope and a chance for recovery.”
- Lady Gaga
From Lady Gaga’s Letter “Head stuck in a cycle and I look off and I stare” “It is a daily effort for me, even during the album cycle, to regulate my nervous system so that I don’t panic over circumstances that to many would seem like a normal life situation...But I am a strong and powerful woman who is aware of the love I have around me from my team, my family and friends, my doctors and from my incredible fans who I know will never give up on me...No one’s invisible pain should go unnoticed.” “If you think you might have PTSD, please seek professional help. There is so much hope for recovery...trauma occurs in an environment where your feelings and emotional experiences aren’t valued, heard and understood...finding support is key.” 6
Highlighting Teen Mental Health Awareness Worldwide Prince William of the United Kingdom announced that he would be launching a new initiative called “Heads Up” which seeks to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging people to talk about their issues. It also encourages people to be more aware of their mental health and seek treatment for mental and physical ailments.
“We all need to take care of our everyday mental fitness, and provide support to one another when we face setbacks.”
- Prince William Lady Gaga to Rolling Stone magazine, 2019: “With teen Mental Health First Aid, we like to say, it’s okay to not be okay... Sometimes when life gives you a million reasons to not want to stay, you need just one person that looks at you, listens to you, helps you get help and validates how you feel. ‘Born This Way’ and the National Council have put this program in eight schools and soon it will be in 20 more. I know for certain that I’m not stopping here. I want the teen Mental Health First Aid program in every school in this country.”
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Be aware of crisis situations
Crisis situations can include events such as: • • • •
Extreme distress Aggression Suicide or suicidal thoughts Non-suicidal self injury
Why do some people engage in non-suicidal self injury? • • • •
To cope with painful feelings of current or past trauma To punish themselves To express feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness To feel physical pain to temporarily distract the brain from emotional pain • To seek attention/help
Nonsuicidal Self-Injury – What’s that?
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Behavior that could be connected to an underlying disorder like anxiety or depression. Examples include cutting, self-hitting, burning, picking, swallowing poisonous substances or objects, and other risktaking behaviors
Signs a young person may be suicidal • Threatening to hurt or kill himself/ herself • Seeking access to pills, weapons or other means • Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide • Expressing hopelessness or having no sense of purpose • Acting recklessly or engaging in risky activities, seemingly without thinking • Feeling trapped • Increasing alcohol or drug use • Experiencing dramatic changes in mood • Sleeping all the time or being unable to sleep • Being anxious or agitated • Withdrawing from friends, family or society • Giving away possessions
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When a friend is trying to harm themselves Get trusted help
Get a trusted adult involved immediately, such as a school therapist, teacher, school resource officer or other school staff.
Call a helpline or emergency number Emergency Services 911 Safe2Tell 1-844-542-7233 Colorado Crisis Services 1-844-493-8255 or
text “Talk” to 38255
When helping a friend remember, it’s about THEM, not YOU! • Their experiences are not the same as yours • Their perspective is not the same as yours • Their culture may not be the same as yours
They need your empathy! 10
Community Reach Center locations Community Reach Center is a mental health resource in your community providing treatment and counseling for children, teens, adults and seniors who are seeking to improve their mental well-being. https://www.communityreachcenter.org/ Commerce City 4371 E. 72nd Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022 (303) 853-3500
Thornton 8931 Huron St., Thornton, CO 80260 (303) 853-3500
Brighton 1850 E. Egbert St., Ste. 200, Brighton, CO 80601 (303) 853-3500
Westminster 3031 W. 76th Ave., Westminster, CO 80030 (303) 853-3500
Northglenn 11285 Highline Dr., Northglenn, CO 80233 (303) 853-3500
Broomfield 100 Spader Way, Broomfield, CO 80020 (303) 853-3500
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Teen Mental Health Awareness
CRISIS RESOURCES
You can talk to a counselor who cares about you and wants to help - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
Colorado Crisis Services Hotline: Text “Talk” to 38255 or call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) For more information and support on teen mental health, check out these hashtags on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:
#oktosay
#headstogether