The kids aren't alright - Young people and mental health

A mental-health dialogue between youth advocates.

Before the pandemic, one-in-five children in America faced a challenge with their mental, emotional, or behavioral health. Since the pandemic, symptoms of depression and anxiety among young people have doubled, worldwide.

We all have a role in protecting the mental health of kids. And we can start by making it something that it’s OK to talk about. 

On today’s program, two youth advocates for mental health – Billie Henderson and Kaiya Bates – discuss what they’ve experienced and how they’ve worked to make things better for other young people.

CONTENT WARNING:

Billie and Kaiya's conversation includes discussion of self-harm and suicidality which may be troubling for some listeners. If you are struggling, please call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. Someone is available to talk with you now.

TRANSCRIPT 

You can listen to Billie Henderson's Hear Me Now story here.

RESOURCES:

Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory (.pdf)

Suicide & Crisis Lifelinecall 988 anytime

Work2BeWell: Mental Health Resilience Support for Teens & Adults

The Trevor Project call 866-488-7386 | chat | text "START" to 678-678

The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline (RAINN) call 800-656-4673 | chat

How do we connect with our kids? Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D. & Dr. Becky Kennedy, Ph.D. (video)

Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness a film by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers (video/paywall)

CONTRIBUTORS

• Billie Henderson
• Kaiya Bates
• Seán Collins

KEYWORDS

• mental health advocates
• mental health
• behavioral health
• substance use disorder
• self-harm
• selective mutism
• youth mental health
• mental health resources
• suicidality