It is never too late to help.
Will you know how to help when it is needed? Can you find the resources that can help you?
Youth need our help.
A CDC survey shows significant increases in high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, considering suicide or attempting suicide over the past decade – trends that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What can we do ? Knowing our youth are speaking out in this survey lets look at some helpful tools/plans:
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
ALGEE Model:
• Approach and assess for risk of suicide or harm.
• Listen non-judgmentally.
• Give reassurance and information.
• Encourage appropriate professional help.
• Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
“HELP” them Model:
- Hearing them.
- Engaging them.
- Learning from them.
- Planning with them.
When we empower a young person to create their own strategy with our support, they are more likely to follow it.
Lets meet them where they are to engage them authentically. Then the focus on pushing and prodding them to take the path we want them to take; we must walk alongside them on their journey of recovery and healing.
As we overcome the challenges that the pandemic has amplified in the lives of our youth. But we can only do it together.
There are always resources that can be helpful articles and resources on this topic of Youth and Mental Health.
This awareness campaign is brought to you in partnership with Empower Tusc.