Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being in Young People

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it's important to remember that all caring adults can play a role in supporting mental well-being in the lives of young people.  One in five young people will experience a mental disorder in their lifetime.  A relationship with a caring, trusted adult can be one of the greatest protective factors for youth experiencing mental health challenges. 

The greatest act an adult can do ​is to be there ​consistently for their young person.  It is important for the adult to actually verbalize that they are there for the youth.  Even if the young person doesn’t want to talk, just knowing that someone is available and willing to listen can make a huge difference. 

Stand Together is a student-to-student initiative that inspires and equips youth to take action against stigma associated with mental illness and substance use disorders.  They have several suggestions for adults looking to support young people's well-being, including:

• Listen non-judgmentally
• Provide support, hope and encouragement
• Validate the youth’s feelings and experiences 
• Model appropriate self-care by taking care of yourself