Supporting teen mental health: Stay aware and involved to help them thrive.

Mental health impacts every teen’s success and happiness. Adults play a crucial role by recognizing signs, fostering open communication, and connecting youth with resources—helping to create a supportive environment for healthy growth and resilience.
Empowered adults help youth build brighter, healthier futures together.

Just the facts:
Teen mental health

Many teens face mental health challenges during adolescence.

Adolescence brings significant physical, emotional, and social changes that can trigger mental health challenges like anxiety and depression. Teen brains are still developing the areas responsible for emotional regulation and decision-making.

Social pressures, academic stress, identity formation, and environmental factors can all contribute to mental health struggles while teens are still developing the brain areas responsible for emotional regulation and decision-making.

The adolescent brain is still developing and more adaptable to treatment, making it easier to establish healthy coping patterns. When teens receive support early, they’re more likely to develop resilience, maintain academic and social functioning, and avoid the long-term impacts that untreated mental health issues can have on their educational, career, and relationship outcomes.

When adults create safe spaces for honest discussions about mental health, it normalizes these struggles as common human experiences rather than personal failures, making teens feel less alone and ashamed. These open conversations also provide teens with the language and knowledge they need to recognize when they’re struggling and feel more comfortable reaching out to trusted adults or mental health professionals for support.

Our survey results* help us guide our approach.

In April 2025, students in Meriden Public Schools grades 6–12 participated in the Youth Voices Count Survey* on youth lifestyles, substance use, mental health, related risk and protective factors. THE OVERALL RESPONSE RATE WAS 79%.

Almost three quarters of Meriden youth say they’ve experienced anxiety at least some of the time over the past year. Nearly 20% feel anxious almost all the time.

Parents and guardians are still the #1 choice for teens when they need support. These are the top three groups from which Meriden youth seek help.

Parents and guardians are still the #1 choice for teens when they need support. These are the top three groups from which Meriden youth seek help.

*YOUTH VOICES COUNT | April 2025 survey
figures rounded to the nearest whole number

see the full SURVEY

When it comes to mental health, teens deal with real challenges. Here’s how you can help them handle it:

Have conversations early & often:
Don’t wait for a crisis. Make mental health an everyday topic to normalize it.
Address stigma directly:
Tell them many people have mental health challenges. Let them know it’s safe to share.
Listen first, without trying to fix:
Teens prefer adults who listen without judgment and keep things confidential.
Model and teach self-care as a family value:
Show them healthy coping strategies like exercise, sleep, and activity.
Make professional help normal:

Let them know that therapy, counseling, or talking to trusted adults is healthy.
Create a safe space at home:

Model that emotions are part of life. Avoid minimizing their struggles or experiences.

Education empowers
positive change.

Helping youth make smart choices starts with real, honest conversations. When families understand the risks of substance use and the benefits of healthy habits, teens are better equipped to make decisions that protect their well-being and future.

Adults! Get support + stay in the know.