Don’t Rely on Luck: Protect Your Teen’s Mental Health

Mar 6, 2023

Every day, whether through face-to-face interactions or podcast conversations, I have the privilege of speaking to hundreds, even thousands, of adults about the reason A Brighter Day Charity exists and the positive impact we are having on families.

Our resources on stress and depression for teens and their families, with the ultimate goal of preventing teen suicide, have made remarkable progress in just seven years. From initially reaching a few hundred individuals monthly, we are now proud to say that tens of thousands have either viewed or downloaded our exceptional, original content. Furthermore, our social media presence has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Why is all of this so effective?

Parents are in dire need of information on how to better connect with their teens emotionally, save them from self-harm, proactively address depression, and prevent depression from taking over.

Suicide is currently at an all-time high, with boys taking their lives four times more frequently than teen girls. However, the rate of suicide is escalating much more rapidly among our young women. It’s not uncommon for teens to conceal their depression and pain from both their parents and peers, which only reinforces the need for our resources to be more accessible and readily available.

Here are a few signs that your teen may be experiencing depression:

Withdrawal from friends, activities, or family events.
A general lack of caring.
Eating changes.
Sleep pattern changes.
Extra moodiness or anger.
Grades in school dropping.

Here are a few steps you can take to learn more about your teen:

As a parent, it’s important to create a non-judgmental atmosphere for your teen if you want them to share information and trust you.

Remember, if your teen feels judged by you, they are less likely to open up, and you won’t be able to fully understand their situation.

1. Make dinner cell phone free for everyone.

No calling your child at college or grandma during dinner. This is your time to ask great questions and learn about what is going on in your teen’s head.

2. Take a weekly walk with your teen.

We are all programmed to talk and share feeling while exercising together. Make drive time talk time. Take out your earbuds and turn off the radio. It is great one-on-one time.

3. Go to our website articles and familiarize yourself with great parent questions to ask.

Our website articles provide valuable information and resources on various mental health topics, including stress, depression, and suicide prevention. With this knowledge, parents can better recognize warning signs, learn how to talk to their teens about mental health, and take appropriate action if necessary.

4. Share or use our Crisis Text Line: Text BRIGHTER to 741741

Every teen in America needs to have our texting hotline at their fingertips. Simply text BRIGHTER to 741741 and in a few minutes you or your teens will be chatting with a trained professional. This is free and available 24/7.

5. Share or use our Therapy Program

Finding a local therapist for your teen or family counseling can take six to ten weeks. We have partnered with BetterHelp via our website to offer this live zoom therapy. This is complimentary and available in just seven to ten days.

Of course, you can always find a local therapist for one-on-one counseling, and don’t be afraid to ask your pediatrician for a recommendation.

6. Attend our Virtual Support Group

Each month, we provide a free-of-charge live Zoom session where parents can connect with a mental health professional and have their questions about their teen’s mental health and depression answered. This valuable resource is available on our website for parents who want to access it.

7. Sign-up for our Bi-Weekly Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest information and resources available to help support your teens. The newsletter includes parenting tips and strategies, updates on our charity’s efforts and initiatives, and highlights new resources available on our website. Fill out the form below to sign up.

Take Action Today

As a parent, it’s important to be proactive and take action by using the educational resources and tools available to you.

By familiarizing yourself with our charity’s resources on teen mental health, depression, and suicide prevention, you can gain the knowledge and skills needed to support your teen during difficult times. Remember, it’s never too early or too late to start the conversation about mental health with your teen.