THIS DONATION SAVES LIVES

TEEN AND YOUTH
MENTAL HEALTH

Navigating the teenage years can be incredibly challenging, as young people face unique pressures related to school, friendships, family, and personal identity. Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress can affect teens and youth in ways that are often hard to recognize, but they don't have to face these struggles alone.

WARRIORS FOR HOPE

Between 2023-2025, in Kansas alone, 1,023 teens attempted suicide and visited the emergency room.

THE FACTS

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens and young adults.

According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide deaths among 10 - 24 year olds has increased by 62% since 2007. In a study conducted by the JED Foundation, a shocking 22% of high school students reportedly had considered suicide in the past year. Teens and youth are experiencing mental health crises and need skills and support to thrive in today's world.

HOW WE SUPPORT YOUTH

Empowering Individuals.

Strengthening Schools.

Inspiring Teens.

Beacon for Hope is committed to supporting teens and young people in our community by creating and sharing meaningful content and campaigns that foster resilience, life skills, and connection, while encouraging help-seeking. We collaborate closely with middle and high schools, as well as directly with teens, to cultivate a culture of care that strengthens mental health and helps prevent suicide. Through these initiatives, we aim to empower young people to thrive emotionally and build a supportive community around them.

EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS

Navigating the teenage years can be challenging, with emotions running high and pressures from all sides. Understanding the warning signs of mental health struggles and having effective coping skills is crucial in supporting teens through these turbulent times.

Mental Health Warning Signs and When to Ask for Help

WARNING SIGNS:

MOOD CHANGES

WARNING SIGNS:

BEHAVIORAL

CHANGES

Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
Engaging in self-injury behaviors, like cutting
Feeling like you’ve “lost time” or have large gaps in memory
Withdrawing from friends, family members, or social activities that you once enjoyed
Experiencing delusions, or beliefs in things that aren’t real
Experiencing hallucinations, or sensory experiences that feel real but are not. For example, hearing voices that no one else can hear or feeling things crawling on your skin.

Feeling sad or “down” for long periods of time without a specific reason for the feeling.
Noticeable mood changes from very high, like euphoria, to very low, like deep sadness
Constantly or excessively worrying about a stressful event or incident
Feeling empty about aspects of life
Outbursts of anger, hostility, or violence
Having trouble relating to others thoughts and feelings

WARNING SIGNS:

PHYSICAL

CHANGES

Sudden sweating, nausea, increased heart rate, or troubled breathing along with intense worry or fear
Disturbed sleeping patterns, either sleeping too much or too little
Feeling fatigued regardless of how much sleep you get
Noticeable changes in sex drive or sexual activity, including engaging in risky sexual behavior
Noticeable changes in eating behaviors. For example restricting your eating or binge eating, feeling fearful of foods for no apparent reason, or having body image issues related to weight or eating.

If you or someone you love are struggling with one or more of the above symptoms for two weeks or more, consider reaching out to a mental health professional for support.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or engaging in suicidal behavior, seek help immediately by dialing 988 or text "start" to 741-741.

WHEN TO SEEK HELP FOR A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE

If you notice any of these changes in your own (or others’) moods or behaviors, there are questions you can ask to gauge how much these changes are affecting life:

If you notice these changes in your or a loved one’s behaviors, especially if you’ve answered “yes” to some of the questions above, it’s important to reach out for support as soon as possible. The longer someone goes without treatment, the more serious symptoms may become—and, in the case of symptoms like delusions or self-injury, untreated symptoms can have serious consequences to your health.

How to Help a Friend Find Mental Health Support

Friends can be a very important part of our mental health support network. Often our friends are the first to notice when something’s wrong, because they know us so well. If you are concerned about changes in a friend’s mood or behavior, here are some ways you can help:

START THE CONVERSATION

Tell them what you’ve noticed and express your concern. It’s important to stay calm and non-judgmental. Use “I” statements, like “I’ve noticed you’ve been skipping class lately, is everything okay?” Or “I saw what you posted last night, do you want to talk about it?”

ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEEK HELP

Encourage them to seek help from a parent or caregiver, therapist, doctor, or guidance counselor. If you’re able to, offer to help them find a therapist or reach out on their behalf to a trusted adult.

DON'T KEEP SECRETS

If your friend is feeling suicidal or engaging in self-injury, do not keep it a secret. They may feel like they need to keep it a secret out of shame or fear—but that will prevent them from getting the help they need. If they tell you, let them know you need to tell a trusted adult for their own safety, even if they get mad at you for doing so. Encourage them to tell someone themselves.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF TOO

Remember to take care of yourself. Sometimes taking care of others can take a toll on our own mental health. If your friend is struggling, offer to support them in the ways you feel able to, and remember to have your own mental health support in place—whether that’s a therapist, self-care, or other healthy methods of coping.