Student Mental Health
& Well-Being Toolkit
Crisis resources, warning signs, how to respond, social-emotional learning, screen time, resilience, and finding help — plus 100 tips. Compassionate, sourced, and grounded in real crisis resources. Built by K12 Academics, free and with no login.
Welcome
Welcome to the K12academics Student Mental Health & Well-Being Toolkit — a practical, compassionate resource for the adults who support young people: teachers, counselors, school leaders, and families. It covers what to watch for, how to respond, how to build well-being every day, and — most importantly — where to turn for help.
You don't need to read further first. If a young person is in immediate danger, call 911. For any mental health crisis, including thoughts of suicide, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24/7 — call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. See Section 02 for the full list of crisis resources.
How to use this toolkit
- Crisis resources are in Section 02 — start there if needed
- Browse by section in the sidebar, or search it
- Use the Checklists and 100 Tips
- Share it with staff and families
Who it's for
- Teachers, counselors, and school staff
- Parents and caregivers
- School and district leaders
- Anyone who wants to support a young person well
What this is — and isn't
- A guide to noticing, responding, and connecting to help
- A way to build everyday well-being and resilience
- Not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care
- When in doubt, connect a young person to a professional
K12academics has connected families and educators with resources since 2004. This toolkit is free — no login required. It is educational, not medical advice. The most important thing any caring adult can do is notice, listen without judgment, and help a young person connect with the right support — you don't have to have all the answers.
Crisis Resources: Start Here
Free, confidential help is available 24/7, and reaching out is a sign of strength — no concern is too small. If a young person is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, these lines connect anyone to trained crisis counselors.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
- Call or text 988 — free, confidential, 24/7
- Chat online at 988lifeline.org
- For suicide, any mental-health or substance-use crisis, or any distress
- Also for anyone worried about a loved one
- Spanish line, Veterans line & Deaf/HoH access
Crisis Text Line
- Text HOME to 741741 — free, 24/7
- A trained counselor responds by text
- For stress, anxiety, bullying, self-harm, and more
- Sometimes easier for teens than a phone call
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth)
- Call 1-866-488-7386
- Text START to 678-678, or chat online
- Specialized crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people
- 988 serves everyone, including LGBTQ+ youth
- (A separate 988 'Press 3' LGBTQ+ line ended July 2025)
More support lines
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (treatment referrals)
- NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264, or text 'HelpLine' to 62640
- National Alliance for Eating Disorders: 1-866-662-1235
- Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860
Stay calm and take it seriously. Listen without judgment or rushing to fix it. Don't leave them alone if they may be in danger. Help them connect to 988, a school counselor, a parent, or another trusted adult — and call 911 if there's immediate risk. You don't have to be a therapist; you have to care and help them reach someone who can.
The State of Youth Mental Health
Young people are facing real and rising mental-health challenges — but the picture also holds hope, and the single biggest predictor of a good outcome is a caring adult who notices and connects a young person to help.
The hardest truth is the treatment gap: most struggling young people never get help, often because the adults around them mistake symptoms for 'just being a teenager,' or don't know where to start. The hopeful truth is that mental-health conditions are common and treatable, early support works, and recent data shows some measures beginning to improve. This toolkit exists to help the adults in a young person's life close that gap.
You don't need to diagnose anything. Noticing a change, listening without judgment, and helping a young person connect to a counselor, doctor, or crisis line is what makes the difference. Early support changes trajectories — and asking for help is a strength, not a failure.
Understanding Mental Health
Mental health is part of overall health — everyone has it, it changes over time, and struggling with it is common and treatable. A shared, stigma-free understanding is the foundation for everything else.
A few fundamentals
- Mental health exists on a spectrum, and it fluctuates
- Conditions like anxiety and depression are common and treatable
- They're not a character flaw or a matter of 'toughness'
- Support and treatment genuinely work
Common conditions (a plain overview)
- Anxiety — persistent worry or fear (most common in youth)
- Depression — lasting sadness, loss of interest, low energy
- ADHD — attention and self-regulation differences
- Others include OCD, PTSD, and eating disorders
What helps most
- Strong relationships and a sense of belonging
- Talking openly and reducing stigma
- Early support before struggles deepen
- Professional care when it's needed
How we talk about mental health shapes whether young people feel safe asking for help. Use everyday, non-judgmental language, treat mental health like physical health, and avoid labels. A classroom or home where it's normal to say 'I'm struggling' is one where young people actually reach out.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
You don't need to be an expert to notice when something's off. The key is watching for changes from a young person's usual self that last more than a couple of weeks — not diagnosing, just noticing.
Changes to watch for
- Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they loved
- Big shifts in mood, sleep, appetite, or energy
- Falling grades or sudden school avoidance
- More irritability, anger, or tearfulness than usual
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most things
Also notice
- Increased worry, fear, or panic
- Physical complaints (headaches, stomachaches) with no clear cause
- Risk-taking, or new substance use
- Changes in eating or intense focus on body image
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
Take these seriously — act now
- Any talk of suicide, death, or being a burden
- Signs of self-harm
- Giving away belongings or saying goodbye
- Sudden calm after a period of deep distress
- A dramatic change in behavior or appearance
Every young person has hard days, and moodiness can be part of growing up. The signals worth acting on are changes that are persistent (lasting weeks), pervasive (across settings), or severe (interfering with daily life) — and anything involving self-harm or suicide, which is always worth an immediate, caring response (see §07).
How to Respond & Start the Conversation
When you notice a young person struggling, a caring conversation is often the most powerful thing you can do. You don't need the right words — you need to show up, listen, and connect them to support.
Open the door, gently
Name what you've noticed without judgment: 'I've noticed you seem down lately, and I care about you. How are you really doing?' Pick a private, unhurried moment. Your job is to start the conversation, not to solve everything in it.
Listen more than you talk
Let them share without interrupting, minimizing, or jumping to fixes. Validate what they feel — 'that sounds really hard' — rather than arguing them out of it. Feeling heard is often the first relief, and it makes them far more likely to accept help.
Avoid the common missteps
Try not to say 'it's not a big deal,' 'just think positive,' or 'you have nothing to be sad about.' Don't promise secrecy if safety is at stake. Stay calm — a young person watches your reaction to decide whether it's safe to keep talking.
Connect them to support
You are a bridge, not the whole solution. Help them reach a school counselor, a parent, a doctor, or a crisis line — and follow up. Staying involved after the first conversation matters as much as having it.
Suicide & Self-Harm: Awareness & Prevention
This is hard to talk about, and talking about it is exactly what saves lives. Suicide is a leading cause of death for young people — and it is preventable. Caring adults who know the signs and how to respond make a real difference.
Warning signs
- Talking about wanting to die, or being a burden
- Feeling hopeless, trapped, or in unbearable pain
- Withdrawing and giving away belongings
- Big changes in mood, sleep, or behavior
- Increased substance use; saying goodbye
How to help
- Ask directly — 'Are you thinking about suicide?'
- Asking does NOT plant the idea — it opens a door
- Listen calmly; take every mention seriously
- Don't leave them alone if they're at risk
- Connect to 988 and a professional right away
Research is clear that asking a young person directly about suicide does not increase risk; it gives them permission to talk and is a critical first step. If they say yes, stay with them, listen without judgment, remove immediate danger, and reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) or 911. Reducing access to anything that could be used for self-harm is one of the most effective prevention steps — a crisis counselor or health provider can guide a family on how.
Self-harm is often a way of coping with overwhelming emotional pain and is not always a suicide attempt — but it always signals real distress and deserves a calm, compassionate, non-punishing response. Avoid shame or ultimatums; focus on connecting the young person with a mental-health professional who can help them build healthier ways to cope. If you're unsure about risk, ask directly and reach 988. For eating-related distress, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders (1-866-662-1235) can help.
Most people who get through a suicidal crisis go on to live full lives. Suicidal feelings are almost always temporary, even when the pain feels permanent. Help works — connecting a young person to support is never the wrong move, and no worry is too small to act on.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Well-being isn't only about responding to crises — it's about building the everyday skills that help young people understand emotions, handle stress, and relate to others. That's social-emotional learning, and the evidence behind it is strong.
The CASEL 5 competencies
- Self-awareness — knowing your emotions and strengths
- Self-management — handling stress and impulses
- Social awareness — empathy and perspective-taking
- Relationship skills — communication and cooperation
- Responsible decision-making — thoughtful, caring choices
Why it matters
- Decades of research back its impact (Durlak et al.)
- Improves well-being, behavior & relationships
- The landmark meta-analysis found an ~11-percentile-point academic gain
- A low-cost boost to school climate for staff and students
Build it every day
- Name and model emotions out loud
- Teach calming and problem-solving strategies
- Use a quality SEL curriculum (see CASEL, Committee for Children)
- Weave it into academics, not a separate add-on
Strong social-emotional skills help young people cope before struggles become crises — and they benefit everyone, not only students who are struggling. CASEL is the leading source for frameworks, evidence, and program guidance.
Building Resilience & Protective Factors
Resilience isn't something young people either have or don't — it's built through relationships and experiences. Strengthening protective factors is one of the most powerful things schools and families can do.
The biggest protective factors
- Connection — at least one caring, consistent adult
- Belonging — feeling part of a school or community
- Coping skills — healthy ways to handle stress
- Routine and structure — predictability feels safe
- Purpose — activities, goals, and contribution
School connectedness is powerful
- Connected students have better mental health and grades
- ...and better attendance and graduation rates (CDC)
- Its effects last for years
- Not all students feel equally connected — build it on purpose
How to build it
- Make sure every student has an adult who knows them
- Foster belonging, inclusion, and safety
- Teach and practice coping skills (see §10)
- Celebrate effort, strengths, and contribution
The research is remarkably consistent: a single stable, caring relationship is the strongest buffer against adversity in a young person's life. You may not think you're doing much by simply knowing a student and checking in — but for that student, it can be everything.
Healthy Coping Strategies
Young people need real tools for handling stress and big emotions — skills you can teach, model, and practice. These are the evidence-informed basics that genuinely help.
Calm the body
- Slow, deep breathing (in for four, out for six)
- Movement — walking, sports, dancing, stretching
- Time outdoors and in nature
- Progressive muscle relaxation and grounding senses
Steady the mind
- Name the feeling — labeling emotions lowers their intensity
- Focus on what's in their control
- Break big problems into small steps
- Mindfulness, journaling, or prayer/reflection
Connect & recharge
- Talk to a trusted friend or adult
- Creative outlets — art, music, writing
- Protect sleep, food, and downtime (see §12)
- Limit stressors, including doom-scrolling (see §11)
The best time to build coping skills is before a hard moment. Practice a couple of strategies together when things are calm, help each young person find the ones that work for them, and model your own — narrating 'I'm feeling stressed, so I'm going to take a few deep breaths' teaches more than any poster. And if distress is persistent or severe, coping skills complement professional help; they don't replace it.
Screen Time & Social Media
Screens and social media are a genuine source of worry — and a nuanced one. The goal isn't zero screens; it's healthy habits, honest conversation, and protecting the things that matter most: sleep, movement, and connection.
What the evidence shows
- About half of teens spend 4+ hours a day on recreational screens (CDC)
- Heavy users report more anxiety and depression symptoms
- It's a real association — not proof screens cause distress
- The Surgeon General has flagged growing evidence of harm
- Effects vary by child, content, and how it's used
Build healthier habits
- Tech-free zones: meals, bedrooms, and bedtime
- Protect sleep and physical activity first
- Co-view and talk about what they see and post
- Teach privacy, kindness, and skepticism online
- Model the balance you want to see
The clearest harm from heavy screen use is what it crowds out — sleep, movement, in-person time, and boredom that sparks creativity. Rather than counting every minute, protect those essentials, keep talking openly, and watch for signs that online life is hurting a young person's mood or relationships. Common Sense Media offers family media guidance and age-based reviews.
Sleep, Movement & Daily Foundations
Before any strategy, the basics do the heavy lifting. Sleep, movement, food, and downtime are not nice-to-haves — they are the physical foundation of a young person's mental health.
Sleep
- Teens need roughly 8–10 hours; most get far less
- Consistent sleep and wake times, even on weekends
- Screens out of the bedroom, especially before bed
- Sleep and mood are deeply linked — protect it fiercely
Movement
- Regular physical activity lifts mood and lowers anxiety
- Aim for about an hour a day, in any form they enjoy
- It doesn't have to be sports — walking counts
- Movement is one of the most reliable mood boosters there is
Nourishment & downtime
- Regular, balanced meals steady energy and mood
- Unstructured downtime and play are essential, not lazy
- Time outdoors and offline restores attention
- Guard against over-scheduling and chronic stress
When someone seems off, gently check the foundations first: Are they sleeping? Moving? Eating? Getting any downtime? Shoring up these basics resolves a surprising amount of everyday stress and low mood — and makes everything else you try work better.
Anxiety & Stress
Anxiety is the most common mental-health challenge in young people. Some worry and stress is normal and even useful — the goal is to help young people manage it, not eliminate it.
Normal stress vs. an anxiety problem
Everyone feels nervous before a test or a big event. Anxiety becomes a concern when it's frequent, intense, or persistent enough to interfere with school, friendships, sleep, or daily life — or shows up as avoidance, panic, or physical symptoms.
Don't accidentally feed it
The instinct to help a young person avoid what scares them can make anxiety grow. Instead, offer calm reassurance and support them in facing worries in small, manageable steps — confidence is built by doing hard things with support, not by avoiding them.
Teach tools that work
Slow breathing, grounding, naming the worry, and focusing on what's controllable all help in the moment (see §10). For school stress, break tasks down, and keep sleep and routine steady — anxiety worsens when the basics slip.
When to get help
If anxiety is limiting a young person's life — avoiding school, frequent panic, constant worry — reach out to a professional. Anxiety is highly treatable; evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy work well, and earlier is easier.
Depression & Low Mood
Depression in young people is common, treatable, and often missed — sometimes showing up as irritability or withdrawal rather than obvious sadness. Recognizing it early opens the door to help.
What it can look like
- Lasting sadness, emptiness, or irritability
- Loss of interest or pleasure in most things
- Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy
- Withdrawal, hopelessness, or feeling worthless
- Trouble concentrating; falling grades
How to support
- Take it seriously; don't wait for it to pass on its own
- Listen, stay connected, and reduce isolation
- Keep gentle routine, movement, and sleep going
- Connect to a professional — and watch for any signs of suicide (§07)
Low mood that lasts more than two weeks and interferes with daily life is worth professional attention. Evidence-based therapies (like CBT and DBT) — sometimes with other supports — help the great majority of young people recover. If you ever notice signs of suicide, respond immediately using §07 and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988).
Bullying, Belonging & Connection
Feeling safe and included is fundamental to mental health. Bullying — in person or online — is a serious risk factor, and building belonging is one of the strongest protections a school can offer.
Bullying & mental health
- Bullying (and cyberbullying) raises risk for anxiety and depression
- Watch for withdrawal, lost items, or school avoidance
- Take reports seriously; respond calmly, not with panic
- Document and report to the school; follow up
- StopBullying.gov guides adults step by step
Build belonging
- Make sure every student has a place and a person
- Foster inclusion across differences
- Address exclusion and cruelty quickly and clearly
- Belonging buffers stress and boosts well-being
Respond to a young person's report of bullying or an online scare with calm and support, never with panic or punishment. Young people stop telling adults things when the reaction feels worse than the problem. Being their trusted first call is one of the best protections you can offer.
Supporting Every Student
Some groups of young people face higher risk and unique barriers — often because of stigma, exclusion, or adversity, not anything inherent. Support that's inclusive and affirming reaches the students who need it most.
LGBTQ+ young people
- Face higher rates of distress, largely due to stigma & rejection
- Acceptance from even one adult is strongly protective
- The Trevor Project offers specialized crisis support
- Affirming, inclusive spaces save lives
Students affected by trauma
- Adversity and trauma are common and shape behavior
- 'What happened to you?' rather than 'what's wrong with you?'
- Predictability, safety, and trusted relationships help heal
- Connect to trauma-informed professional support
Other students to keep in view
- Neurodivergent students (ADHD, autism, learning differences)
- Newcomer and multilingual students
- Students facing poverty, loss, or family stress
- Students experiencing racism or exclusion
School connectedness protects all students, but not all feel it equally — young people experiencing racism, LGBTQ+ students, and others often feel less connected (CDC). Building inclusive, affirming relationships isn't extra; it's how you reach the young people at highest risk.
Mental Health at School
Schools are where young people spend their days, and they're increasingly on the front line of mental-health support. Knowing what your school offers — and how to use it — helps every student.
Who's on the team
- School counselors — academic, social & emotional support
- School psychologists — assessment & intervention
- Social workers — family and community links
- Nurses & trusted teachers — often notice first
How support is organized
- Many schools use a tiered system (MTSS) for well-being
- Tier 1: supports for all (SEL, climate, connectedness)
- Tier 2: targeted help (groups, check-ins)
- Tier 3: intensive, individualized support & referral
Make it work
- Know how to refer a student who's struggling
- Build well-being into everyday classroom culture
- Partner with families early and often
- Connect students to community resources when needs exceed the school
Counselors and psychologists are essential, but they're often stretched thin — and a young person may open up first to a coach, bus driver, teacher, or cafeteria staffer they trust. A whole-school culture where every adult notices and knows how to connect a student to help is the goal.
For Parents & Caregivers
Families are a young person's most important source of support. You know your child best — and a few habits at home make an enormous difference to their well-being.
Everyday support
- Keep talking — regular, low-pressure check-ins
- Listen without judgment or rushing to fix
- Protect sleep, movement, meals, and downtime
- Model healthy coping and your own limits
Stay attuned
- Notice changes from their usual self (see §05)
- Keep devices out of bedrooms overnight
- Know their friends, activities, and online life
- Trust your instincts — you know your child
When to seek help
- Don't wait it out if a struggle is persistent or severe
- Start with your pediatrician or the school counselor
- Ask about therapy; use your insurance and telehealth
- In a crisis, call or text 988, or 911 if urgent
Seeking professional support for your child isn't a failure of parenting — it's exactly what a good parent does, the same as seeing a doctor for a physical illness. Getting ahead of a struggle is far easier than waiting, and it shows your child that reaching out is what strong, healthy people do.
Finding Professional Help
Knowing how to find and access care is often the hardest part for families — and the biggest reason young people don't get help. Here's how to start.
Where to start
- Your pediatrician or family doctor — a great first step
- Your school counselor or psychologist
- Your insurance's mental-health provider directory
- A trusted therapist or community mental-health center
Types of support
- Therapy/counseling — talk therapy like CBT or DBT
- Psychiatry — evaluation and medication when appropriate
- School-based services — often free and convenient
- Telehealth — expands access, especially rurally
Navigate the system
- Ask your doctor or school for referrals
- Use free screening tools (Mental Health America)
- Check cost, insurance, and sliding-scale options
- Don't give up if the first fit isn't right — keep going
You don't need a diagnosis to reach out. Mental Health America offers free, confidential mental-health screenings; NAMI (1-800-950-6264) helps families find support and navigate options; and SAMHSA's National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) provides free, confidential treatment referrals 24/7. Your child's school and doctor are also there to help you start.
Caring for the Adults Who Care
You can't pour from an empty cup. The teachers, counselors, and parents who support young people carry real emotional weight — and protecting your own well-being is part of protecting theirs.
Know the risks
- Compassion fatigue and burnout are real
- Supporting a struggling young person is heavy work
- Secondhand exposure to others' distress adds up
- You can care deeply and still need support yourself
Protect yourself
- Set boundaries around time and emotional energy
- Lean on colleagues, friends, and your own supports
- Keep your own sleep, movement, and downtime
- Use your EAP or a therapist when you need to
Know your limits
- You're a caring adult, not a young person's therapist
- Hand off to professionals — that's the right move
- You don't have to carry a crisis alone
- Modeling healthy limits teaches young people, too
Young people learn how to handle stress by watching the adults around them. Taking care of yourself — resting, setting limits, asking for help — isn't a distraction from supporting them; it's part of it. If you're struggling, the same resources in this toolkit are for you, too.
Toolkit Checklists
Six checklists for putting this toolkit to work. Click any box to check it off; your progress stays for this session. Tap a checklist to open it.
Save the Crisis Resources
Notice the Warning Signs
Have the Conversation
Build Well-Being Every Day
Respond to a Possible Crisis
Find Professional Help
Downloads & Templates
Templates referenced throughout this toolkit, ready to adapt for your school or family.
Respond & connect
- Crisis-resources wallet card & poster
- 'Starting the conversation' script
- Warning-signs quick reference
- Student referral / hand-off form
Build well-being
- Coping-skills menu for students
- Classroom well-being routines
- SEL check-in prompts
- Family media / screen-time plan
Foundations
- Sleep & routine tracker
- Movement & downtime planner
- Belonging / connection audit
- Trusted-adult mapping sheet
For families & staff
- Parent conversation guide
- When-to-seek-help flowchart
- Staff wellness & boundaries checklist
- Community resource contact sheet
Editable versions of these templates are available on request — see §26, Stay Connected.
Communities & Support Networks
No caring adult should navigate this alone. These trusted organizations provide crisis support, guidance, and resources — most of them free.
Crisis & immediate help
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988
- Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741
- The Trevor Project — LGBTQ+ young people
- National Alliance for Eating Disorders — 1-866-662-1235
Guidance & support
- NAMI — support, education & a family helpline
- Mental Health America — free screenings & resources
- Child Mind Institute — parent & educator guides
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — prevention resources
Schools & well-being
- CASEL — social-emotional learning
- StopBullying.gov — recognizing & responding
- Common Sense Media — screens & digital well-being
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP) — pediatric guidance
Go deeper
- SAMHSA — helplines & treatment locator
- The Jed Foundation — teen & young-adult mental health
- Your school counselor & pediatrician
- Your community mental-health center
QR Resource Hub
Scan any code below with your phone camera — perfect for a printed copy of this toolkit. The first codes go straight to crisis support.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential crisis support, 24/7.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 for 24/7 support.
The Trevor Project
Crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people.
Find Mental-Health Support
SAMHSA helplines & treatment locator.
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K12academics Resource Center
Beyond this toolkit, here's what K12academics offers families and schools — much of it free.
For families & educators
- 200+ education directories across six categories
- 'This Week in Education' weekly newsletter
- The State of Education Reports (2026)
- Free toolkits like this one
Find what you're looking for
- K-12 Schools directory
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- Summer Programs & Performers
For schools & programs
- Community Catalogs (digital flip-catalogs)
- Branded media kits & interactive suites
- Partner & advertising opportunities
- See what members say
Stay Connected
Ways to stay in touch with K12academics — and to help shape the next edition of this toolkit.
Subscribe
- Join our newsletter
- Get 'This Week in Education'
- Education news and resources, regularly
Contribute
- Nominate a resource for a future edition
- Request the editable templates from §22
- Tell us what schools and families still need
- Contact us
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- Daily resource shares & community highlights
- Partner or advertise with us
Sources & Further Reading
The figures in this toolkit come from current, primary sources, and the crisis and support resources are the official, verified ones. Please confirm any specifics with these authorities before relying on them.
Data & research
Crisis & support (official)
Guidance for adults
This toolkit is educational and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or care. Crisis numbers and resources were verified as of the 2026–2027 school year; if any detail has changed, the official sites above are the ones to trust. If a young person may be in danger, call or text 988 or call 911.
100 Well-Being Tips
Everything above, distilled into 100 quick, compassionate reminders you can scan any day. Twenty categories, five tips each.
Knowing the Signs
- Watch for changes from a young person's usual self.
- Concern grows when signs last more than two weeks.
- Withdrawal, mood, sleep, and appetite shifts matter.
- Falling grades or school avoidance are signals.
- Trust your gut that something is off.
Starting the Conversation
- Pick a private, unhurried moment.
- Name what you've noticed, without judgment.
- 'How are you really doing?' opens the door.
- Listen more than you talk.
- You don't need perfect words — just show up.
In a Crisis
- Call or text 988 for any mental-health crisis.
- Text HOME to 741741 to reach a counselor.
- Call 911 if a young person is in immediate danger.
- Stay calm and don't leave them alone.
- No concern is too small to reach out.
Building Connection
- One caring adult is the strongest protection.
- Make sure every student has an adult who knows them.
- Check in regularly, not just in a crisis.
- Belonging buffers stress and boosts well-being.
- Small, consistent presence matters most.
Social-Emotional Skills
- Teach self-awareness and managing emotions.
- Model naming feelings out loud.
- Practice empathy and perspective-taking.
- Build relationship and decision-making skills.
- SEL is prevention — CASEL can guide you.
Healthy Coping
- Slow breathing calms the body fast.
- Naming a feeling lowers its intensity.
- Movement is a reliable mood booster.
- Focus on what's within their control.
- Practice coping skills before the hard moment.
Sleep & Basics
- Teens need about 8–10 hours of sleep.
- Consistent sleep and wake times help mood.
- Keep screens out of the bedroom at night.
- Regular meals steady energy and mood.
- Check the basics first when someone seems off.
Screens & Social Media
- Aim for healthy habits, not zero screens.
- Protect sleep and movement over screen time.
- Tech-free zones: meals, bedrooms, bedtime.
- Co-view and talk about what they see.
- Watch what screens crowd out.
Managing Anxiety
- Some worry is normal and even useful.
- Avoidance makes anxiety grow — face fears in steps.
- Teach grounding and slow breathing.
- Keep sleep and routine steady.
- Anxiety is highly treatable — get help early.
Supporting Low Mood
- Depression can look like irritability or withdrawal.
- Take lasting low mood seriously.
- Keep gentle routine, movement, and connection.
- Don't wait for it to pass on its own.
- It's treatable — connect to a professional.
Belonging & Anti-Bullying
- Bullying raises anxiety and depression risk.
- Take every report seriously and calmly.
- Be a safe first call, not a panic response.
- Address exclusion and cruelty quickly.
- StopBullying.gov guides your response.
Resilience
- Resilience is built through relationships.
- Routine and structure feel safe.
- Purpose and contribution protect well-being.
- Celebrate effort and strengths.
- School connectedness has lasting effects.
Every Student
- Some groups face higher risk from stigma, not traits.
- Acceptance from one adult protects LGBTQ+ youth.
- Ask 'what happened to you?' not 'what's wrong?'
- Reach students who feel least connected.
- Inclusive, affirming spaces save lives.
At School
- Know how to refer a struggling student.
- Every adult in the building can notice.
- Counselors and psychologists are stretched — help them.
- Build well-being into everyday culture.
- Partner with families early.
For Parents
- Keep talking with low-pressure check-ins.
- Listen without judgment or rushing to fix.
- Protect sleep, movement, meals, and downtime.
- Trust your instincts — you know your child.
- Seeking help models strength.
Finding Help
- Start with the pediatrician or school counselor.
- Use free screenings from Mental Health America.
- Ask about therapy, telehealth, and insurance.
- You don't need a diagnosis to reach out.
- Keep going if the first fit isn't right.
Reducing Stigma
- Treat mental health like physical health.
- Use everyday, non-judgmental language.
- Make it normal to say 'I'm struggling.'
- Avoid labels and shame.
- Asking for help is a strength.
Suicide Prevention
- Asking directly does not plant the idea.
- Take every mention seriously.
- Don't leave an at-risk young person alone.
- Reduce access to means — ask a provider or 988 how.
- There is hope — suicidal crises pass, and help works.
For the Adults
- You can't pour from an empty cup.
- Compassion fatigue is real — protect yourself.
- Set boundaries around time and energy.
- You're a caring adult, not a therapist.
- Hand off to professionals — that's the right move.
Mindset & Hope
- Most conditions are common and treatable.
- Early support changes trajectories.
- Noticing and connecting to help is what matters.
- You don't need all the answers.
- One caring adult can change everything.