Youth Council Ambassadors presents:
10 WAYS
to support a friend’s mental health
A guidebook FOR teens BY teens
Youth Council Ambassadors is a program of Youth Employment Service and the Ithaca Youth Bureau
Table of Contents
Intersectionality and mental health............................................p 3
10 Ways to support a friend’s mental health.......................p 4-15
Resources.....................................................................................p 14-15
Local resources for basic needs...................................................p 16
How to talk about mental health...............................................p 17
Mental health professionals that are
accessible to teens ........................................................................p 18
About YCA.......................................................................................p 19
Intersectionality
and
mental health
What is Intersectionality?
The study of overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination, or discrimination. The identities we hold and the ways they interact directly impact our mental health.
Why intersectionality makes it harder to get mental health help:
Some BIPOC communities view mental health as stigmatized due to medical neglect and are less likely to receive help than white people.
Additionally, structural racism can impact a person’s access to care and how validated their concerns are when they do reach out. Learn more about intersectionality and mental health here:
[3]
[4]
Take care of YOURSELF first
Your own mental health is important.
How do we practice maintaining good mental health?
Taking care of your own mental health makes you have a happier and healthier life. It also makes you more able to support others.
Remember to practice healthy boundaries!
You are not responsible OR qualified to resolve your friends’ mental health issues. What you can do is offer support and help connect them to professionals and other resources.
Spend time together
Having friendships and close relationships is strongly connected to mental health benefits. It lowers levels of anxiety and depression, and increases self-esteem and empathy.
Being together with friends, even if you aren’t doing anything in particular, can make a person feel less lonely.
[5]
Normalize talking about
mental health
[6]
Talking about mental health decreases the stigma and increases the chance someone will reach out for help if they need it. If a friend is talking to you about their mental health it is important to be a good and respectful listener.
Tips for being a good listener:
Talking and listening to your friends gives them the space and support they need to talk about their mental health.
Be a trustworthy friend
Involvement in trusting friendships help people feel safe and valued. What you say and do can have a big impact on your friends and can matter more than you realize. Here are some tips on how to be a trustworthy friend:
NOTE: If you fear for you’re friend’s safety or think they will harm themselves or others, tell a safe adult (see page 9). Your friend might not appreciate in the moment, but it could be the thing that gets them the help they need.
[7]
Pay attention to subtle signs
Not everyone is open to talking about their own mental health. It’s important to keep an eye out for subtle signs.
What to look for: mood swings, appetite changes, irritable behavior, disrupted sleep, etc
If someone you care about is showing these signs, make sure to check in on their basic needs: sleep, food and water, physical health, shelter etc
[8]
Involve safe adults
If you feel that your friend is in danger, involving an adult who they can trust, speak to, and confide in is essential. For example: teachers, school counselors, coaches, parents, and family members.
Consulting mental health professionals such as therapists, psychologists, and social workers can also be a good place to begin.
You can walk with your friend to the school counselor’s office, or sit with them while they make a phone call to a mental health hotline*. This will show them that you support them and care about them getting help.
(*See resources starting on page 14)
[9]
Ask directly if you suspect
they are considering suicide
If you are worried that someone you know might be thinking about suicide, it is best to ask them directly.
Asking directly can sound like:
It’s common to think that asking someone about suicide will put the idea in their head. However, this is not true. Asking directly can give you the information you need to find them the right kind of help and lets them know you care about their safety.
See pages 14 and 15 for more mental health crisis resources
[10]
Safety Check-In Tips
Steps to take:
Conversation Starters
Go to page 17 for more information
[11]
Follow Up
Ensure they got help and offer ongoing support
[12]
Caring about someone isn’t a one time action, it takes time for people to heal. You can’t offer professional mental health care but you can be a bridge to them getting the help they need.
This can look like:
Remember to take care of yourself first. Only offer support that you are comfortable and able to give.
Understand how media and screen time affects mental health
[13]
Crisis Control: Who and why to call
A mental health crisis is defined as “any situation in which a person's behavior puts them at risk of hurting themselves or others and/or prevents them from being able to care for themselves or function effectively in the community.”
-National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI]
If you or a friend you know is struggling with depression, mental health, substance abuse, or sexual abuse there are crisis services you can use.
Call 988
988 is like 911 for mental health. Dialing 988 on any phone will connect you to a mental health professional. You can talk anonymously and confidentially to people who can help.
If you are worried about a friend who you think is experiencing a mental health crisis and you aren't sure how to help, CALL 988! They will ask you about the situation and guide you with what to do next.
988 helps provide support in crisis and connects people to
therapy or mental health resources, too.
[14]
Additional Crisis and Non-Crisis Resources
The Trevor Project
Call 1-866-488-7386 or text 678-678
24/7/365 crisis services, advocacy, peer support, public education, and research programs to help ensure that all LGBTQ young people have supportive adults in their lives
Chat online at thetrevorproject.org,
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI.org
NAMI provides mental health resources to kids, teens, adults, families, schools and other organizations. They offer mental health education services, support groups, and can help individuals with their own mental health journey.
Tompkins County Warmline: 607-277-7337
This is a local hotline for non–crisis peer support
If you or a friend are in immediate danger, call 911.
Scan for more Tompkins County Mental Health Resources:
[15]
Local RESOURCES
for basic needs
Unmet basic needs can be a major drain on mental health
Legal Aid
Visit LSC.gov to find who administers federal legal aid near you. For Ithaca and the surrounding areas visit lawny.org or call (585) 325-2520 to reach Legal Assistance of Western New York.
Housing
Youth experiencing housing insecurity can reach out to the Open Doors Program. Call or text: 607-301-3002 https://www.fcsith.org/opendoors
Housing assistance in the Ithaca, NY area visit ithacaha.com or call (607) 273-8629. For the hearing impaired line call (800) 662-1220.
Food
If you need help with food a few good choices are Loaves & Fishes, Rescue Mission Pantry, and No Mas Lagrimas
QR Code links to a spreadsheet of all
pantries and food distribution programs in Tompkins County
+123-456-7890
[16]
How to Talk about Mental Health
Do:
Don’t:
Conversation Starters
+123-456-7890
[17]
Mental health professionals that are accessible to teens
Note: in some cases, these people may be required to make a report of certain information (e.g. suspicion of abuse, immediate danger to self or others, etc.). Talk with your trusted adults to learn when specific information needs to be shared with others.
[18]
About
YCA
Youth Council Ambassadors is a group of local teens with a mission to listen and speak for youth of Tompkins County.
Each year, Ambassadors gather weekly to address local issues impacting teens in Ithaca and Tompkins County. We conduct surveys, research topics of our choice, create resources, and raise awareness.
This booklet is the result of our work around Youth Mental Health in our community.
Youth Council Ambassadors is part of Youth Employment Service (YES), which is a program of the Ithaca Youth Bureau
[19]
The content of this booklet is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition or disease. You understand that this booklet is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a licensed practitioner. Please consult with your own physician or healthcare specialist regarding the suggestions and recommendations made in this booklet. The use of this booklet implies your acceptance of this disclaimer.