Mental health challenges affect youth and families year-round, and our work to address them is never-ending. One in five teens has struggled with mental health at some point in their life, with suicide rates soaring among 15- to 24-year-olds. Gain tools and resources through the National Council
to help young people have a brighter future.
Does my child need help?
When your child’s behaviors are seriously interfering with his or her ability to do things that are age-appropriate, it’s important to get help.
Download the full Parents Guide to Getting Good Care here.
Helping Children Cope after a Traumatic Event
Understand that children cope in different ways. Some might want to spend extra time with friends and relatives; some might want to spend more time alone.
Download the full guide here.
Want to learn more about how to help high school students who are experiencing mental health or addiction challenges? Register for a teen Mental Health First Aid training!Start a Conversation About Mental Health!
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Topics in the News:
USA TODAY
- Help hard to find for teens struggling with mental health, thoughts of suicide
- Suicide rate up 33% in less than 20 years, yet funding lags behind other top killers
- Youth offenders are now being screened for suicide risk at New York probation offices
NPR
CNN
Psych Central
Hear from the Experts:
The National Council released a video series on GRIT featuring insight from Ben Shapiro, Dr. Harold Koplewicz, Dr. John Kane and Dr. Mary McKay.
Part 1: Guts
Is your child struggling with a mental health issue? There is hope. Watch college student Ben Shapiro describe his experience with OCD as a child. “Open your mind to treatment and the possibility that it does get better.”
Part 2: Resilience
What’s a key predictor of recovery in children with mental illness? Resilience, says Dr. Harold Koplewicz, president of the Child Mind Institute. Click the video for expert advice on how you can give your child the skills to overcome their challenges.
Part 3: Identification
If you are concerned about your child, early identification is key! “You know your child the very best,” says Mary McKay, director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy & Research.
Part 4: Treatment
Worried about your child’s diagnosis? “Psychiatric illnesses are common and treatable,” says John Kane, Vice President for Behavioral Health Services at Long Island Jewish Health Systems.