Hey guys!
Thanks for checking out MHAI’s Youth Corner! In this area, you will find all kinds of information that has to do with mental health and youth, including statistics, games, Web links and information on how to get involved and even how to share your own story.
Did you know that mental health affects everyone? Do you know how to take care of your mental health? Well, here - just for you - you can find out that information and more. You can even find out how to get involved in programs supporting mental health awareness, like Mental Health America’s Mpower program or even how your school can request a speaker to come talk to your class!!
So look around, get informed and get active! And remember to check back often, as we continue to update this page with new information, new activities and stories about kids and young adults just like you!
Thanks for stopping by!
The MHAI Team
REMEMBER! Depression can occur to anyone, at any age, and to people of any race or ethnic group. Depression is never a “normal” part of life, no matter what your age, gender or health situation. (Mental Health America, 2006)
- Did you Know?
- What Is a Mental Illness?
- How to Get Involved
- Some Things to Think About
- How You Can Help a Friend in Need
- What Students liked about MHAI’s CHANGING MINDS Presentation
- What Students learned after hearing CHANGING MINDS Presentation
- Youth Corner Resources
- MHAI Word Find!
- It is estimated that more than 6 million young people in America may suffer from a mental health disorder that severely disrupts their ability to function at home, in school or in their community. (Mental Health America, 2006)
- One in 10 Illinois children (more than 350,000 children) under the age of 19 suffer from a serious mental disturbance severe enough to impair their functioning and ability to learn; yet only 20% of these children will receive mental health services. (Mental Health America, 2006)
- Each year, almost 5,000 young people (ages 15 to 24) lose their lives to suicide. Four out of 5 teens who attempt suicide have given clear warnings. (Mental Health America, 2006)
- Today, most people can lead productive lives within their communities thanks to a variety of supports, programs and/or medications. (Mental Health America, 2006)
A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe disturbances in thinking, perception and behavior. If these disturbances significantly impair a person’s ability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines then he or she should immediately seek proper treatment with a mental health professional. With the proper care and treatment, a person can recover and resume normal activities.
Many mental illnesses are believed to have biological causes, just like cancer, diabetes and heart disease but some mental disorders are caused by a person’s environment and experiences. (Mental Health America, 2006)
Many times young people suffer in silence with mental illnesses. Maybe they just need someone to talk to but are too afraid or ashamed to come forward because of the fear that they might be made fun of or because they think people won’t believe they have a “real” illness or problem. This is one of the results of something called “stigma,” which is any negative meaning that is attached to something. (To learn more about stigma see the stigma fact sheet on the home page).
Fortunately, there are things that YOU, as a young person, can do to reduce stigma and help those who need it to come forward for assistance. The following is a list of ways for you to make a difference:
- Check out Mental Health America’s Mpower: “Musicians for Mental Health” Program, which is a program geared towards youth that helps to raise awareness about mental illnesses and treatment for them. Just click on the link to find out more about mental health topics affecting youth today; how you can get involved; and even tell your own story!
Go to http://www.mpoweryouth.org/411.htm to learn more!
- Become a volunteer for MHAI! There are many volunteer opportunities at MHAI from participating in health fairs, speaking to groups or helping at the MHAI office. All volunteers must complete a volunteer form and meet with an MHAI staff person. Volunteering is a great way to make a difference and we’d love to have you!
- Encourage your school administration to invite us to speak to your class on a variety of different mental health topics, such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, self-injury, ADHD, suicide, schizophrenia, stress and how to take care of your mental health. To learn more, check out the section about MHAI’s CHANGING MINDS Campaign (located under What We Do).
- Share Your Story. The Real Lives: Share Your Story Campaign is a one-of-a-kind project that invites people who struggle with mental illnesses to break the silence and share their stories. We all know how empowering human connections are to those seeking wellness and recovery. By speaking out about your experiences, you help give a voice to the 57.7 million American adults—and as many as one in 10 children—who have a mental health disorder.
To learn more about how to get involved with MHAI, contact Ariel Mindel at 312-368-9070 x22, or at amindel@mhai.org. She’d love to hear from you!!
How Do You Take Care of YOUR Mental Health?
Just as it’s important to take care of our physical health, it’s also JUST as important to take care of our mental health! In fact, the ways in which we take care of ourselves physically is very similar to how we can take care of ourselves mentally. The following are ways for you to take care of your mental health:
- Get Enough Rest
- This can help our mental health by helping our minds function at “full capacity.”
- When we don’t get enough rest, we can impair our thought processes, become less resistant to negative stressors, and become more irritable.
- It’s important for young people to get at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night in order to function at the best level and help reduce the risk of mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety and others.
- Exercise
- It not only helps give us energy and burn fat but it also helps us feel better.
- When we exercise, chemicals called “endorphins” are released in our brains that contribute to that good feeling we get.
- Exercise also helps to reduce stress!
- MANAGE YOUR STRESS!
- We all have stress in our lives both good and bad. If it’s not managed, stress can contribute to:
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety
- Depressive thoughts or feelings
- Anger and more
- It’s good to know ahead of time ways that you can manage your stress when the going gets tough or when you have a lot going on.
Remember…take care of your body and it will take care of you!
How You Can Help a Friend in Need
There are times when you may see that a friend is having a difficult time emotionally and you aren’t sure what to do. Sometimes, you may see warning signs of suicide in a friend and you REALLY don’t know what to do. It’s important to know ahead of time, especially in times of crisis, how you can help a friend in need.
- If you have a friend that you think may be experiencing symptoms of depression or showing signs of thoughts of suicide, it’s important to speak up to your friend and to someone who can help them. (To find information about the symptoms of depression and/or the warning signs of suicide, check out the home page to see the information sheet on those topics).
- It’s important that your friend knows that you care about them and that there is help available.
- If they are feeling suicidal, make sure that you TELL SOMEONE. NEVER PROMISE TO KEEP IT A SECRET!
- Your friend needs your help and you need to tell a trusted adult what is going on so your friend can get the help they need and deserve.
- This can be a scary situation but you can make a difference.
- Remember 4 out of 5 young people give CLEAR warning signs before a suicide attempt and those warning signs are a cry for help. They need you to be a good friend.
- Don’t go through it alone. Find support from parents, teachers, counselors or any other adult you trust.
- You can also call the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
What Students liked about MHAI’s CHANGING MINDS Presentation
- “[I liked] the games and the [presenters’] explanations…I learned a lot!”
- “I learned a few things [for myself]. I think I have an anxiety disorder, so now I know I can get help.”
- “I liked learning how to cope with stress.”
- “[I liked] hearing the real life experiences, [it] makes it more real.”
- “[I liked] knowing what to do to help a friend.”
- “[The presentation] related to things people our age go through…[and it] involved the audience.”
- “It was fun!”
- “You’re a really good speaker. I like how you put your personal life into it.”
- “This program helped me understand more about mental health.”
What Students learned after hearing MHAI’s CHANGING MINDS Presentation
- “You should tell an adult right away if a friend [is thinking] about suicide.”
- “One out of five teens [is] depressed.”
- “[I learned] how to cope with stress and how to help others when they are having difficulties.”
- “[I learned] how to take care of my mental health.”
- “[I learned] that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in 10-24 year olds.”
- “[I learned] that 3 people [lose their lives to] suicide in Illinois every day.”
- “[I learned] that it is better to be concerned and ask questions [about others’ mental health] than it is to sit back and stay quiet.”
- “I’ve learned that you can’t tell that someone has a [mental] disorder just by looking at them.”
www.nosuchthingascrazy.com – A great Web site about all different kinds of mental illnesses and emotional disorders and how they impact teens. Videos, pictures, testimonies and resources are just a few of the things you can find when exploring this site.
www.mentalhealthamerica.org – Mental Health America (formerly the National Mental Health Association) The country’s leading nonprofit dedicated to helping ALL people live mentally healthier lives. With our more than 320 affiliates nationwide, we represent a growing movement of Americans who promote mental wellness for the health and well being of the nation – everyday and in times of crisis.
www.mhai.org – Mental Health America of Illinois (formerly the Mental Health Association in Illinois)
Since 1909, Mental Health America of Illinois has worked to promote mental health, prevent mental illnesses, and improve the care and treatment of persons suffering from mental and emotional problems. An affiliate of Mental Health America, MHAI is Illinois' only statewide, non-profit, non-governmental advocacy organization concerned with the entire spectrum of mental and emotional disorders.
www.nostigma.org – Web site for the “National Mental Illness Awareness Campaign.” It is a nationwide nonpartisan public education campaign that was launched as part of the 1999 White House Conference on Mental Health. We are dedicated to battling the stigma, shame, and myths surrounding mental disorders that prevent so many people from getting the help they need.
www.mpoweryouth.org – Mpower is a new youth awareness campaign that's harnessing the power of music to change youth attitudes about mental health and fight the stigma facing the 1 in 5 youth with mental health problems.
www.activemindsoncampus.org – Active Minds is the nation's only peer-to-peer organization dedicated to the mental health of college students. The organization serves as the young adult voice in mental health advocacy on more than fifty college campuses nationwide.
www.depressionforums.org – Depression Forums is a Web site providing opportunities for open discussion about depressive illnesses. It describes itself as a “Depression and Mental Health Community Support Group.”
www.save.org – SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) SAVE's Mission is to prevent suicide through public awareness and education, eliminate stigma and serve as a resource to those touched by suicide.
www.suicidalteens.com – Teen Force is an organization made for teens to get advice, crisis help, health information, interaction opportunities, participate in contests, meet and chat with other teens, post comments and discussion topics in forums, and more.
www.dbsalliance.org – Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) DBSA is the nation’s leading patient-directed organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses; depression and bipolar disorder. The organization fosters an understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically based tools and information written in language the general public can understand.
www.healthyplace.com – HealthyPlace.com is the largest consumer mental health site, providing comprehensive information on psychological disorders and psychiatric medications from both a consumer and expert point of view. We have active chat rooms, hosted support groups, people who keep online journals/diaries, psychological tests, breaking mental health news, mental health videos, online documentary films, a mental health radio show and more.
www.silverribbon.org – The Silver Ribbon is the acknowledged symbol throughout the world for promoting public awareness of the need for support of people with brain disorders and disabilities. As the Silver Ribbon becomes more and more visible, public support for research and services for those who have a brain disorder or disability will occur, accompanied by a reduction in stigma for those affected.
