Youth MOVE Massachusetts Newsletter

Youth MOVE Massachusetts is a program of the Parent/Professional Advocacy League

February 17th, 2026 | Issue 17

Falling Through the Cracks

Written by a Youth MOVE Massachusetts guest blogger

In my early teen years, I was considered acute, as I exhibited sudden onset symptoms of anxiety and depression with suicidal ideation. I was in and out of the hospital due to the fact that I was unable to “contract for safety”– as they used to say. Although those were some of the toughest years of my life, I had a vast team to give me a leg up when I was at my lowest- therapy, youth groups, a DMH support worker, a team at my therapeutic high school, and my parents. I was very lucky to have a complete arsenal of support and resources to keep me from falling through the cracks.

I can’t say that I’m completely without support these days, either. I still see the same therapist I started with 17 years ago, and I have friends and family who know that I struggle from time to time and graciously still love me when I become symptomatic. For the most part, I can say that the good days outweigh the bad, and when they’re good, they’re really good. I can function without using up all of my “spoons,” and I genuinely enjoy life. That being said, when the days are bad, they’re the worst. The bottom line is, I live with depression and anxiety, and even though I can get through my day, I’m not doing it without a substantial amount of stress and worry.

Now, when I’m at my lowest, I don’t typically utilize my natural supports. I never want to feel like I’m a burden to others, but I know that I usually need to reach out for help. Once I’ve realized that I’ve reached the bottom of my pit of despair, I know that it’s time to claw my way out again, and I try to utilize resources. Unfortunately, they seem to be few and far between for people like me. Whenever I make a real attempt to better myself, I always end up feeling spurned and unheard. I’m just going to come out and say it; there aren’t enough resources for folks who present with “high functioning” mental illness. I use the phrase “high functioning” loosely, of course, as no one’s mental health journey is linear....

Young Adult Resources: Know Your Rights

(from Youth MOVE National!)

"At Youth MOVE National, our mission is to ensure that youth and young adults are heard and valued as leaders in the agencies, communities, and systems that impact their lives.

One way you can help ensure that you and your community are heard loud and clear is by making sure you and those around you know your rights.

We have gathered resources below that you can use to learn about your rights, how to exercise them, and what to do when your rights are violated.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The ACLU works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.
Know Your Rights Database
Immigrants' Rights - Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution.
Protesters’ Rights - The First Amendment protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest.
Students’ Rights - Learn about your rights on campus and what to do if school rules violate those rights.
& More, check all available Know Your Rights resources from ACLU here >>

Advocates for Trans Equality: Advocates for Trans Equality fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in America. Leveraging decades of experience on the frontlines of power, we shift government and society towards a future where we are no less than equal.
Trans Legal Survival Guide 2.0 - This update to A4TE’s Trans Legal Survival Guide compiles information to help the trans community navigate changing regulations and advocate for themselves and their networks.
How to Testify for Trans Rights - Our stories matter. Our voices matter. As a trans person or an ally, you may have the opportunity to speak in front of state legislatures, school boards, city councils, and more. This guide walks you through the essential building blocks of telling your story in these settings.
More resources from Advocates for Trans Equality can be found on their website >> "

Additional Resources:

Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition: MIRA is the largest coalition in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees.

Social Media Spotlight

YMM's social media accounts are made by youth for youth! We share tips and educational content about mental health, youth, and advocacy to create a safe space for young people to learn and connect. Check out some of our posts:

Mental Health Mini Activity

Iso-principle Playlist

Music can be a great coping tool, but it can also amplify the negative emotions you are feeling in the moment. What’s a good way to balance this? Try the iso-principle! The iso-principle is a technique that matches music to your mood, then slowly shifts you to your desired mood or emotional state as the music changes. To do this easily, create an iso-principle playlist!

First, identify the negative mood you are in (or may be in) that you want to change (angry, depressed, stressed, etc.). Then identify the positive mood you’d like to be in (calm, happy, etc.). From this, choose two songs that match your negative mood. Pay attention to their genre, lyrics, and tempo (how fast or slow the song is) to ensure they fit with how you are feeling. Next, choose two songs that fit the positive mood you’d like to be in. Again, pay attention to genre, tempo, lyrics, and, overall, how the song makes you feel. Then, pick a few songs that you feel would fit between the first two and last two songs. Order them in a way that makes the transition between negative and positive smooth. Choose music that becomes increasingly hopeful, upbeat, calm, etc. to slowly shift into the mood you’d like to be in. You can tailor your playlist depending on how long you’d like it to be. Once you’ve done this, you can try it out! See how the playlist impacts you the next time you are experiencing a strong negative emotion. If this works well for you, make multiple playlists for different emotions!