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Mental health is a state of well-being in our thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Teens, like everyone, have good days and bad days.​

Everyone experiences challenges. Stress, anxiety, distressing experiences, chemical imbalances, genetics, and our environment can all sometimes create challenges to positive mental health.​​

Some key elements to healthy coping include: making time to unwind, taking care of your body, connecting with others, and finding ways to calm stress and anxiety. The American Psychological Association has some additional suggestions you can discuss with your teen.

Jeffco Teens Worry About School/Grades and the Future

According to participants at the 2024 Youth Town Hall, Jefferson County teens top worries are school/grades and the future. These are followed by acceptance/being liked, expectations/disappointing others/not being good enough, and friends. 

If your teen could use additional support, free therapy is available through I Matter in Colorado. Youth being able to access therapy has never been easier, thanks to I Matter. I Matter is making it easy to get therapy and offers up to six FREE sessions with a licensed therapist to any young person in Colorado.

Signing up is easy: Youth, parents, or guardians can simply complete the 10-minute online survey to be matched with a therapist. If a young person in your life is having a hard time with their mental health, I Matter can help.

Visit IMatterColorado.org or YoImportoColorado.org to learn more about free therapy and to get started today.

Video: Message To Our Parents with Tag

Watch carefully for common danger signs when teens are suffering with serious depression and mental health issues. Content warning: mention of suicide.

Video is one minute and thirty one seconds long (1:31).

Open Ended Questions about Mental Health

How to Start a Conversation About Mental Health

Send a text to your teen asking them what they think about the youth section of the Colorado Crisis Services website and, if they are open to it, watch some of the videos together.

First, find an opening. An idea is: 

Notice mental health issues in the media. When you hear something on a show, a movie, or a song that implies people should  “get over it” or “toughen up” when experiencing mental health challenges, ask your teen what they think.

Ask a direct question that can't be answered with a simple "yes" or "no."

For example:

• How can I be there for you?
• What is one thing I can do to support you?
• What do you wish I really understood about you?
• What do you do when you are dealing with challenges like stress or anxiety?
• How do your friends handle mental health issues when they come up in their families?
• What kinds of conversations do you and your friends have about depression?
• What makes you hopeful about the future?

The best way to show your teen you care?

Be there.

Have a talk with your teen.

Learn more at https://jeffcoctc.care/twelve-talks/mental-health/ 

Denver Public Schools Webinar: Practical Tools for Reducing Anxiety and Building Resilience in Young People

Denver Public Schools Substance Use Prevention Program offers monthly webinars on a variety of helpful topics.

The next webinar is Practical Tools for Reducing Anxiety and Building Resilience in Young People. Webinar is May 14th at Noon on Zoom.

Join them for an informative webinar designed for parents, families and other trusted adults  where you will learn practical tools to help young people reduce anxiety, strengthen resilience, and enhance overall well-being. 

Tessa Zimmerman founded Upstream after experiencing severe panic attacks as a young adult, which highlighted the critical lack of mental health resources available in schools. Over the past nine years, she has successfully grown Upstream, positively impacting more than 50,000 students across Colorado and nine other states.

Tessa will share her personal story of overcoming anxiety and provide concrete strategies that you can implement with your own children to help them cope with anxiety and build resilience. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and tools to support your child's mental health!

Spanish interpretation will be available.