Teen Mental Health Resources

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You Are Not Alone.

Mental health is an important part of overall well-being. Whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, friendship challenges, overwhelming emotions, sleep struggles, or simply looking for ways to build resilience, support is available.

This resource center connects teens, parents, caregivers, and educators with trusted information, tools, activities, and support resources to help young people thrive.

Emotional Regulation & Coping Skills

Learning how to recognize, manage, and express emotions is an important life skill. These resources can help teens build healthy coping strategies and emotional awareness.

Featured Resources

Quick Tip

When emotions feel overwhelming, pause and try:

  1. Take five slow breaths.
  2. Name what you're feeling.
  3. Connect with someone you trust.
  4. Use a healthy coping skill like journaling, music, exercise, or mindfulness.

Building Healthy Relationships

Positive relationships support mental wellness and help us feel connected, valued, and understood. 

Resources

  • Friendships Friends can be a big help for your mental health, but sometimes things change. If you're not getting along with friends right now, you've had a fallout, or you just feel uncomfortable in your group, these tips and advice from YOUNGMINDS can help you through it.
  • How to Help a Friend A practical guide from NAMI that teaches young people how to recognize when a friend may be struggling, offer support in a caring way, and connect them with trusted adults or professional help when needed.
  • 15 Green Flags in Relationships A resource from Choosing Therapy that highlights positive relationship qualities such as trust, respect, communication, and support, helping teens and young adults recognize the signs of healthy and meaningful relationships.
  • Brené Brown on Empathy Watch this short, animated, and engaging video about the power of empathy and connection on YouTube.
  • The Science of Why Friendships Keep Us Healthy This article from the American Psychological Association shares psychological research that suggests stable, healthy friendships are crucial for our well-being and longevity.

Healthy Relationship Checklist

✅ Respect boundaries
✅ Honest communication
✅ Mutual trust
✅ Support during difficult times
✅ Feeling safe and valued

Healthy Boundaries & Social Media Wellness

Creating healthy boundaries can improve self-confidence, reduce stress, and strengthen relationships. 

Resources

  • Finding a Trusted Adult from NAMI is a guide that helps young people identify supportive, trustworthy adults in their lives and learn how to reach out for help, guidance, and emotional support when needed.
  • Setting Boundaries: How to Say "No" This practical worksheet from Therapist Aid teaches individuals how to set healthy boundaries, communicate their needs clearly, and confidently say “no” in a respectful and effective way.
  • What Are Healthy Boundaries? An educational video from Therapist Aid that explains the importance of healthy boundaries, how they support positive relationships and well-being, and practical ways to establish and maintain them.
  • Thrive for Teens: Social Media Module An interactive learning resource from Pennsylvania State University that helps teens understand the impact of social media on mental health, relationships, and well-being while building skills for safe, responsible, and balanced online engagement.
  • Social Media Wellness Toolkit This collection of resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics helps youth and families build healthy social media habits, promote digital well-being, and navigate online experiences safely and positively.

Social Media Reflection Questions

  1. Does social media help or hurt my mood?
  2. Am I comparing myself to others?
  3. Do I take breaks when I need them?
  4. Am I following accounts that make me feel positive and supported?

Stess, Mindfulness & Self-Care

Small daily habits can have a big impact on mental health. Mindfulness and self-care can help improve focus, reduce stress, and increase resilience. 

Resources

  • Overwhelmed: Managing Feelings and Racing Thoughts A guided mental health video from AboutKidsHealth that helps youth cope with overwhelming emotions and racing thoughts by using grounding, mindfulness, and self-calming techniques to regain focus and emotional balance.
  • Free Self-Care Checklist for Teens A downloadable resource from Choosing Therapy that helps teens develop healthy self-care habits by providing practical ideas and activities to support their physical, emotional, social, and mental well-being.
  • 12 Journaling Prompts for Mental Health A Choosing Therapy resource that provides reflective writing prompts to help teens and adults process emotions, reduce stress, build self-awareness, and support overall mental well-being.
  • Why Mindfulness Is a Superpower Practicing mindfulness is one of the single most powerful things you can do for your wellbeing. Watch this engaging, animated video from Happify that explains how mindfulness can help teens manage stress, improve focus, regulate emotions, and build resilience in everyday life.
  • How Mindfulness Empowers Us Mindfulness allows us to see our thoughts and feelings as they really are, freeing us from old ways of thinking. Watch this video from Happify that explores how practicing mindfulness can strengthen self-awareness, improve emotional regulation, reduce stress, and help individuals respond more effectively to life's challenges.
  • 3 Brain Tricks That Make You Happier in 15 Seconds A brief, engaging resource from The Success Paradox that shares simple science-backed techniques to quickly shift your mindset, boost positive emotions, and improve overall well-being.
  • Do This Every Morning to Feel Mentally Stronger A motivational resource that shares simple daily habits and mindset practices to build resilience, boost confidence, and support positive mental health throughout the day from NEXPSY.
  • Mindfulness for Teens A resource from Mindfulness for Teens that introduces mindfulness practices designed to help teens manage stress, improve focus, regulate emotions, and build resilience in their daily lives.

Self-Care Ideas

  • Spend time outdoors
  • Get regular movement
  • Journal your thoughts
  • Practice gratitude
  • Connect with friends
  • Limit screen time when needed
  • Practice mindfulness or meditation

Sleep & Mental Wellness

Sleep plays a major role in mood, mental health, concentration, and emotional well-being. 

Resources

  • Teen Q & A: Why Can’t I Fall Asleep at Night? A short video from Sanfordfit to help you learn what you can do to get better sleep.
  • How to Calm Your Worries and Sleep Better Narrated by sleep scientist Dr. Jared Minkel and featured by Happify, this short video shares science-based strategies to calm racing thoughts, manage worries, and build healthy habits that support better sleep and emotional well-being.
  • Teen Sleep Toolkit Backed by the National Sleep Foundation, this toolkit helps teens build healthy sleep habits with practical strategies to improve sleep, boost well-being, and support success in school and daily life.
  • Sleep: A Bedtime Story Created by AboutKidsHealth, this guided video helps youth develop healthy sleep habits through a calming bedtime routine that promotes relaxation, prepares the mind and body for sleep, and supports overall well-being.
  • How Sleep Affects Your Emotions Presented by sleep scientist Dr. Matt Walker through TED’s Sleeping with Science series, this short video explains how sleep affects emotions, stress, and decision-making, and why healthy sleep is essential for emotional well-being and resilience.

Healthy Sleep Habits

  • Keep a consistent sleep schedule
  • Reduce screen use before bed
  • Create a relaxing bedtime routine
  • Avoid caffeine late in the day
  • Practice calming breathing exercises

Bullying, Cyberbulling & Online Safety

Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and supported online and offline. 

Resources

  • Cyberbullying and Bullying Provided by StopBullying.gov, this resource helps youth, families, and educators recognize signs of bullying and cyberbullying, understand their impact, and learn practical steps to prevent, report, and respond to harmful behavior
  • Social Media Wellness Toolkit Curated by the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, this toolkit offers teen-friendly resources, activities, and strategies to promote healthy social media use, digital well-being, and online safety.
  • Thrive for Teens: Bullying Module This video module from Pennsylvania State University is designed to empower teens to promote kindness and respect, provide tools to combat bullying, and contribute to a more compassionate community.
  • Cyberbullying Tips for Teens Published by the National Crime Prevention Council, this resource provides practical tips to help teens prevent cyberbullying, protect their online reputation, respond safely to harmful online behavior, and seek support when needed.

Digital Wellness Reminders

  • Think before you post, share, or comment.
  • Protect personal information and passwords.
  • Report and block bullying or harmful content.
  • Take breaks from social media when needed.
  • Reach out to a trusted adult if something online makes you feel unsafe.

School Success & Life Balance

Balancing academics, activities, work, relationships, and personal wellness can be challenging. These resources can help teens stay organized and reduce stress. 

Resources

  • Time Management for Students Designed to help students build lifelong organizational skills, this resource from NAMI provides practical strategies for planning, prioritizing tasks, managing deadlines, and creating healthy routines that support academic success and life balance.
  • Life Balance for Young Adults Published by the Children's Health Council (CHC), this resource offers practical strategies for balancing school, work, relationships, and self-care while reducing stress and maintaining overall well-being.
  • Commitment Planner Created by NAMI, this planning tool helps teens balance school, extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, and self-care by organizing commitments, setting boundaries, and preventing burnout.
  • Build a Teen Stress Management Plan Developed by the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, this interactive resource helps teens identify sources of stress and create a personalized plan using healthy coping strategies, self-awareness, and practical tools to build resilience and well-being.

Know When to Seek Help

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talking to others can help. The following signs may indicate that you’re feeling stressed and may want to ask for help:

  • Exaggerated irritability.
  • Withdrawal from social interaction.
  • Increased distractedness, forgetfulness and confusion.
  • Anxiety or depression.
  • Changes in sleep.
  • Emotional outbursts and crying.
  • Excessive worry and fear.

Everyone needs help from time to time, and reaching out for help if you need it, is normal and healthy behavior.

Trusted Mental Health Resources

Explore these highly respected organizations for additional information and support. 

For Teens

  • What’s on My Mind: A Teens Guide to Thinking, Feeling, and Figuring Things Out Developed by Sanford Health experts through Sanfordfit, this interactive workbook helps teens explore emotions, build coping skills, practice mindfulness, and strengthen mental wellness through reflection activities, journaling prompts, and evidence-informed strategies.
  • Seize the Awkward Created by the Ad Council in partnership with NAMI and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), this resource helps teens recognize when friends may be struggling and provides practical tips, conversation starters, and support tools for talking about mental health.
  • Mindscape Developed by Harvard Health Publishing, this resource provides teens, caregivers, and educators with trusted information, practical tools, and support strategies to promote mental wellness, build resilience, access help, and navigate mental health challenges.
  • Nemours TeensHealth Created by Nemours Children’s Health, this resource provides doctor-reviewed information, videos, and tools that help teens learn about physical health, mental health, relationships, and healthy decision-making.
  • Young Men's Health Developed by the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, this resource provides evidence-based health information, expert guidance, and practical tools to help teen boys and young men make informed decisions about their physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
  • Center for Young Women’s Health A collaboration between the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine and the Division of Gynecology at Boston Children’s Hospital. The Center is an educational entity that exists to provide adolescents of all genders with carefully researched health information, health education programs, and community spaces.
  • Go Ask Alice! Developed by Columbia University health experts, this anonymous Q&A resource offers evidence-informed answers to teen and young adult questions about mental health, well-being, relationships, and healthy living.
  • Mental Health Information Provided by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), this resource offers trusted, research-based information on mental health conditions, coping strategies, treatment options, and ways for teens and families to find support and help.

 Wellness Apps & Digital Tools

  • Mindscape Apps Developed by Harvard Health’s Mindscape initiative, this resource helps youth, families, and professionals explore trusted mental wellness apps that support mindfulness, emotional well-being, stress management, and healthy coping skills.
  • MindApps.org Developed by the Division of Digital Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, this free resource helps youth, families, caregivers, and professionals identify mental health apps based on privacy, cost, features, and evidence-based practices.
  • Woebot Health Developed by clinical psychologist Dr. Alison Darcy and Woebot Health, this app uses evidence-based mental health strategies and mindfulness techniques to help teens build coping skills, track moods, and support emotional well-being through guided conversations and self-help tools.

Mental Wellness Reminders

  • You are not alone in what you're feeling.
  • Difficult emotions are temporary and manageable.
  • Everyone needs support sometimes.
  • Progress matters more than perfection.
  • Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

Resources for Youth Programs

Youth programs play an important role in supporting the healthy development of young people. 

Recommended Resources

Quick Tips for Supporting Youth Mental Health and Well-Being

  • Build belonging and connection.
  • Encourage emotional awareness.
  • Praise effort and growth.
  • Teach problem-solving skills.
  • Create safe, supportive spaces.

Resources for Parents & Caregivers

Parents and caregivers play an important role in supporting youth mental health. 

Recommended Resources

  • NAMI Basics A free education program from NAMI that provides parents and caregivers of children and teens with information, support, and practical skills for navigating youth mental health challenges.
  • I Want to Help My Teen/Young Adult A resource from The Jed Foundation (JED) that provides parents and caregivers with tools, guidance, and mental health resources to support teens and young adults.
  • The 5 C's of Media Guidance A resource from the American Academy of Pediatrics that helps parents support healthy media use by focusing on the child, content, calming strategies, communication, and balancing screen time with other activities. (Kids & Screen Time)
  • How to Prevent Cyberbullying A guide from StopBullying.gov that helps parents, caregivers, and youth recognize, prevent, and respond to cyberbullying while promoting safe and responsible online behavior.
  • Healthier Mind A nonprofit organization, Healthier Mind for Life, that supports adolescent and young adult mental wellness through educational resources, community support, and accessible mental health tools, including a searchable directory of mental health resources by state
  • Parents’ Guide to Teenagers and Sleep A guide from the Child Mind Institute explaining how sleep affects teen health, behavior, and learning, along with tips to help teens get the rest they need.
  • Five Ways Parents Can Help Teens Connect Across Differences A guide from the Greater Good Science Center with practical strategies for helping teens build empathy and connect with people from diverse backgrounds.
  • Teen Mental Health: Warning Signs, Impact, and How to Support Adolescents An article from Mental Health First Aid outlining common teen mental health warning signs and ways adults can provide support
  • Thriving Mind Podcast A podcast from the Child Mind Institute offering expert advice and practical tips on children's mental health and well-being.
  • How to Co-Create a Screen-Free Routine with Your Teen Learn how to co-create a screen free routine with your teen using Sanfordfit’s expert backed strategies that build trust, support digital wellness, and strengthen family connection.
  • How to Recognize and Manage Teen Burnout Discover expert-backed tips for parents and caregivers from Sanfordfit on how to recognize and manage teen burnout.

Quick Tips for Supporting Your Teen

  • Stay connected: Make time for regular, judgment-free conversations.
  • Watch for warning signs: Notice changes in mood, behavior, sleep, or social connections.
  • Promote healthy habits: Prioritize sleep, physical activity, and balanced screen use.
  • Support digital wellness: Talk about online safety, social media, and cyberbullying.
  • Encourage empathy: Help teens build respectful relationships and appreciate different perspectives.
  • Know where to get help: Keep mental health resources and support services easily accessible.

Crisis & Immediate Support

If You or Someone You Know Needs Immediate Help

  • Call 911 if there is an immediate danger or medical emergency.
  • Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) for free, confidential support 24/7. View this short video resource for more information on 988: What happens when you call 988?
  • Call your local Wisconsin County Crisis Line. Find a list of contact numbers on the Prevent Suicide Wisconsin website.
  • Reach out to a trusted adult, school counselor, healthcare provider, parent, guardian, or mental health professional.

Remember: Asking for help is a sign of strength.

Mental Health Matters

Everyone experiences challenges, stress, and difficult emotions. Seeking support, practicing healthy coping skills, and staying connected can make a meaningful difference. You do not have to navigate life's challenges alone.

mental health is health

Take care of your mind. Take care of yourself. Reach out when you need support.