Resources For

Teens

We all have emotional health, just like we all have physical health. Emotional health is important
for how we think, feel, act, and relate to other people. If we break an arm or are physically
unwell, we see a doctor for help. But when we are emotionally “not okay,” many of us will not
ask for help.

As many as 1 in 5 teens have an emotional health problem. We believe that your
emotional health is just as important as your physical health. The websites listed on the attached
paper may help some teenagers who feel stressed or unhappy and aren’t sure what to do. These
websites are NOT meant to take the place of talking to someone. Please tell your parent or
another trusted adult if you aren’t feeling okay.

The Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine organized the following resources for teenagers who
are looking for online peer support, helpline numbers to call, and other information

Youth Friendly Mental Health Online Resources

   Center for Young People’s Health:                                           These websites provides a series of guides on emotional health, including on test anxiety, depression, bullying, and eating disorders.

www.youngwomenshealth.org        www.youngmenshealthsite.org

Go Ask Alice!:                                                                                  Geared at young adults, this question and answer website contains a large database of questions about a variety of concerns surrounding emotional health.

www.goaskalice.columbia.edu

Girls Health.gov:                                                                          “Your Feelings” section of this website offers guidance to teenage girls on recognizing a mental health problem, getting help, and talking to parents.

http://girlshealth.gov/feelings/index.html

    Jed Foundation:                                                                    Promoting emotional health and prevent suicide among college students, this website provides an online resource center, ULifeline, a public dialogue forum, Half of Us, and Transition Year, resources and tools to help students transition to college.

http://www.jedfoundation.org/students

Kelty Mental Health Resource Center:                                    Reference sheets are provided that list top websites, books, videos, toolkits and support for mental health disorders.

http://keltymentalhealth.ca/youth-and-young-adults

Reach Out:                                                                                        This website provides information on specific mental health disorders, as well as resources to help teens make safe plans when feeling suicidal, and helpful tips on how to relax.

http://au.reachout.com/

Teens Health:                                                                          Providing a safe place for teens who need honest and accurate information, this website provides resources on mental health issues.

http://teenshealth.org/teen/your_mind/

Teen Mental Health:                                                                 Geared towards teenagers, this website provides learning tools on a variety of mental illnesses, videos, and resources for friends.

http://teenmentalhealth.org/

Apps and Tech Services

   Beacon 2.0:                                                                                  Beacon is a portal to online applications (websites, mobile applications and internet support groups) for mental disorders reviewed and rated by health experts.

https://beacon.anu.edu.au/

Health Talk:                                                                                      This website reflects the lived experience of mental health conditions, including research-based modules with hours of recording and analysis.

www.healthtalk.org/peoples-experiences/mental-health

Mindfulness for Teens:                                                                    This website has resources to help teens use mindfulness to handle stress and includes apps to practice meditation and guided mediation recordings.

http://mindfulnessforteens.com/

   Mood 247:                                                                                              A text messaging system that provides an easy way to record how you’re feeling and tracks your daily moods to share with friends, family, or a health professional.

https://www.mood247.com/

   Strength of Us:                                                                                     An online community designed to inspire young adults impacted by mental health issues to
think positive, stay strong and achieve goals through peer support and resource sharing.

http://strengthofus.org/

Mental Health Resource Institutes

   American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:            This resource center includes videos, ways to get help, and advocacy campaigns.

www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Youth_Resources/Home.aspx

   National Alliance on Mental Health:                                            Find resources for youth, including information on managing your mental health in college and making friends.

www.nami.org/Find-Support/Teens-and-Young-Adults

National Institute of Mental Health:                                              This website provides easy-to read guides and brochures to help better understand a variety of mental health disorders. www.nimh.nih.gov/health/index.shtml

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: SAMHSA provides information on mental health services and treatment centers through a service locator.

https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

Mental Health Medication Guidelines

   Head Meds:                                                                                          This website gives young people focused information about the most common medicines prescribed for mental health conditions.

http://www.headmeds.org.uk/

Making Healthy Choices:                                                                This guide provides information for youth in foster care related to making decisions about their mental health, treatment options, and the use of psychotropic medications.

www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/makinghealthychoices/

Helplines

   Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM):                              Visit www.thecalmzone.net or UK residents call 0800-58-58-58

 Crisis Text Line:                                                                                 Visit www.crisistextline.org/ or Text “START” to 741-741

 Lifeline Cr:                                                                                              Visit www.crisischat.org/ to chat with crisis centers around the      U.S.

List of International Suicide Hotlines:                                        Visit www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

Love is Respect:                                                                              Visit www.loveisrespect.org/, text “LOVEIS” to 22522, or call 1-866-331-9474 to talk with a peer advocate to prevent and end abusive relationships.

National Eating Disorder Association:                                    Visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ or call 1-800-931-2237

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:                                        Visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Advocacy

   Active Minds:                                                                                        The leading nonprofit that empowers college students to speak openly about mental health, Active Minds aims to educate others and encourage help-seeking.

http://activeminds.org/

Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network:                        GLSEN is the leading national education organization focused
on ensuring safe schools for all students. This website provides resources on finding GSA Chapters, and tools on how to establish or re-establish a GSA.

http://www.glsen.org/

StopBullying.gov:                                                                            This website offers resources specifically for teens to prevent bullying in their schools and communities and provides resources for those being bullied.

http://www.stopbullying.gov/

Teens Against Bullying:                                                            Created by and for teens, this website is a place for middle and high school students to find ways to address bullying, take action, be heard, and own an important social cause.

http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/

Time to Change:                                                                                 As England’s biggest program to challenge mental health stigma and discrimination, this advocacy website provides ways to join the campaign and get others involved.   

www.time-to-change.org.uk/

Youth Resource:                                                                            Created by and for LGBTQ young people, this website provides information and resources on self-harm and suicide, personal stories and accounts, and useful hotlines.

www.youthresource.com/