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## Other Youth Topics

## Breadcrumb

            -  Youth Topics 
            -  Mental Health 
            -           The Role of Attitudes and Discrimination      

# The Role of Attitudes and Discrimination

Discrimination against youth with mental health challenges begins early and increases over time, causing attitudes to become ingrained.1 Despite the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that people with mental illnesses are not to blame for their conditions (84 percent), only about 57.3 percent believe that people are generally caring and sympathetic toward individuals with mental illnesses.2 This percentage is much lower (24.6 percent) for those who themselves suffer poor mental health.3

## Attitudes of Young People

Discrimination and misconceptions about people with mental illnesses is prevalent for youth and young adults.4 Findings from the 2006 HealthStyles Survey suggest that, for young adults between the ages of 18 and 24,
                      - about 24 percent believe that a person with a mental illness is dangerous and 38.9 percent believe he or she is unpredictable;
                      - less than half (44.3 percent) believe that someone with a mental illness can be successful at work;
                      - only slightly more than half (55.2 percent) believe that treatment can help people with mental illnesses lead normal lives; and
                      - only around 26.9 percent believe that a person with mental illness can eventually recover.

## Discrimination as a Barrier to Recovery

Discrimination associated with mental illness poses a large barrier to recovery and is one of the main reasons why people don’t seek help and treatment.5 Further, an unwillingness to seek help because of the negative attitudes attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts has been found to be one of the risk factors associated with suicide.6

## What can be Done to Limit Discrimination?

Youth are a key population on which to focus discrimination reduction efforts, as they are more likely than the general public to know someone with a mental illness, and therefore have a unique opportunity to make a difference.7The National Annenberg Survey of Youth conducted a large scale study on these negative attitudes and found that youth who were informed with facts and able to dispel myths about individuals with mental health disorders were less likely to discriminate against them. They concluded that various approaches have promise in decreasing negative attitudes and discrimination, such as the use of mass media to influence the attitudes of youth and educating students by incorporating persons with mental health disorders as speakers in classroom presentations and discussions.8

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has launched an anti-discrimination campaign called *What a Difference a Friend Makes*. The premise of the campaign is that recovery from mental illness is more likely in a society that is accepting, and that provides education and support from friends. Through acceptance and social inclusion, individuals who have behavioral health challenges or mental illness can be contributing members of their families and communities.

SAMHSA suggests everyone can do something to help a person with mental illness by
                      - avoiding the use of negative labels;
                      - showing kindness and respect; and
                      - helping to eliminate discrimination in housing, employment, or education. 9

In addition, understanding and accepting friends play an important role in recovery. 
                      - Friends can help by offering reassurance, companionship, and emotional strength. 
                      - Friends can express an interest and concern for people with a mental illness by asking questions, listening to ideas, and being responsive. 
                      - Friends can help encourage others to treat mental illness like any other healthcare condition. 
                      - Friends can dismiss any preconceived notions about mental illness and embrace a more helpful way of relating to people. 10

## Resources

**What a Difference a Friend Makes**The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration launched the Mental Health Campaign for Mental Health Recovery to encourage, educate, and inspire people between 18 and 25 to support their friends who are experiencing mental health problems. The site provides information to dispel myths about mental health problems, shares stories of youth and young adults who have struggled with mental health problems, and provides resources to encourage youth and young adults to support others with mental health problems.

**Youth Mobile Response Services: An Investment to Decriminalize Mental Health (PDF, 23 pages)**This report from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) evaluates the role of law enforcement and mental health systems in the United States and their relationships to racial justice.

## References

1 Wahl, 20022 SAMHSA, 2006; CDC, 20073 CDC, 20074 SAMHSA, 2006; CDC, 20075 SAMHSA, 20066 CDC, 20107 SAMHSA, 2006 8 Romer, 20039 SAMHSA, 2006 p. 310 SAMHSA, 2006 p. 3

## Other Resources on this Topic

### Agencies 

                          - Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Human Services
                          - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
                          - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

### Announcements 

                          - 25th National Conference on Mental Health Services Research (MHSR): Transforming Challenges into New Opportunities
                          - Archived Webinar: Pushing Educational Boundaries: Student Recommendations for Spending American Rescue Plan Funds
                          - Archived Webinar: Using Telemental Health Services to Meet the Needs of Children and Youth
                          - Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Expands School Safety Programs and Funding
                          - Brief: Discriminatory Transgender Health Bills Have Critical Consequences for Youth
                          - Building Staff Co-Regulation to Support Healthy Relationships in Youth: A Guide for Practitioners
                          - Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
                          - CDC Publishes First National Study on Use of Behavioral Therapy, Medication, and Dietary Supplements for ADHD in Children
                          - Children’s Mental Health Awareness (CMHA) Day: May 7, 2021
                          - Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month: May 2021
                          - Free to Learn Initiative
                          - Mental Health Resources for K-12 Schools
                          - National Adolescent Health Month Resources
                          - National Drug Court Month
                          - National Mental Health Awareness Month
                          - National Prevention Week
                          - NCER Awards Three Additional Education Research Grants
                          - Observance: 2024 National Adolescent Health Month (NAHM)
                          - OK2TALK: Help for Youth
                          - Opportunity for Involvement: Participants Needed for National Survey on Supports Families Received During the Transition Years
                          - Opportunity: Call for Lightning Talk and Poster Submissions
                          - Podcast: The Science of School Safety
                          - Preventing Marijuana Use Among Youth & Young Adults
                          - Report: 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
                          - Report: America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2021
                          - Report: Behavioral Health Barometer, Volume 4
                          - Report: Behavioral Threat Assessment in Schools: Evidence, Fit, and Appropriateness
                          - Report: Building Co-Regulation Capacity to Support Positive Development for Youth with Foster Care Experience
                          - Report: Children’s Mental Health: Understanding an Ongoing Public Health Concern
                          - Report: Comparison of Physical Health Conditions among Adolescents Aged 12 to 17 with and without Major Depressive Episode
                          - Report: COVID-19’s Impact on Young People
                          - Report: Experiences of LGBTQ People in Four-Year Colleges and Graduate Programs
                          - Report: Food Insecurity and Health-Related Concerns Among Elementary Schoolteachers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
                          - Report: Homelessness and Housing Instability Among LGBTQ Youth
                          - Report: Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth
                          - Report: Multiracial LGBTQ+ Youth Face Heightened Suicide Risk
                          - Report: National Juvenile Probation Office Survey
                          - Report: National Substance Use and Mental Health Services Survey 2022: Data on Substance Use and Mental Health Treatment Facilities
                          - Report: Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among U.S. Adults — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2011–2020
                          - Report: Prevalence of Parent-Reported Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Diagnosis and Associated Treatment Among U.S. Children and Adolescents, 2016
                          - Report: Prevention with Purpose: A Resource for Community and Technical Colleges
                          - Report: Promoting Healthy Futures: Afterschool Provides the Supports Parents Want for Children’s Well-Being
                          - Report: Psychotropic Medication Use among Children Who Are Subjects of Child Protective Services Investigations: Does Court Oversight Matter?
                          - Report: School Health Profiles
                          - Report: Suicides Among American Indian/Alaska Native Persons — National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2015–2020
                          - Report: Surgeon General’s Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health
                          - Report: Take Action for Adolescents: A Call to Action for Adolescent Health and Well-Being
                          - Report: Ten Core Competencies for Youth and Young Adult Centered Mental Health Systems
                          - Report: The Importance of Student Sense of Belonging
                          - Report: Use of Supports Among College Students with Disabilities and Special Needs
                          - Reports: Regional Behavioral Health Barometers
                          - Research: Examining the Relationship Between LGBTQ-Supportive School Health Policies and Practices and Psychosocial Health Outcomes of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Students
                          - Resource: $63 Million to Expand Community Schools and Increase Social, Emotional, Mental Health, and Academic Support for Students, Educators, and Families
                          - Resource: 10 Tips for Teaching the Psychological First Aid Model for K-12 Education Agencies
                          - Resource: 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results
                          - Resource: 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Infographic
                          - Resource: 2022 School Pulse Panel
                          - Resource: 2023 SchoolSafety.gov Resource Package
                          - Resource: 2024 School Mental Health Quality Guides
                          - Resource: 2SLGBTQ Community Readiness Survey
                          - Resource: 8 Tips for College Women’s Health and Safety
                          - Resource: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline PSA
                          - Resource: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Website
                          - Resource: 988 Videos
                          - Resource: A Toolkit for School Systems to Advance Comprehensive School Employee Wellness
                          - Resource: Activate: The Center to Bring Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Research to Youth-Supporting Professionals
                          - Resource: Addressing Diabetes and Depression in the School Setting
                          - Resource: Addressing Educator Burnout and Demoralization: Actions for Administrators
                          - Resource: Addressing the Long-Term Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children and Families
                          - Resource: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Racial and Ethnic Minority Youth: A Guide for Practitioners
                          - Resource: Addressing Trauma and Mass Violence
                          - Resource: Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) Results
                          - Resource: Advancing Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems: Guidance from the Field
                          - Resource: Adverse Childhood Experiences Capacity Assessment Tool Roadmap
                          - Resource: Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Policy Toolkit
                          - Resource: AFFIRM Caregiver: Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Caregivers of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning (LGBTQ+) Populations
                          - Resource: Affirming and Supporting LGBTQ Children and Youth in Child Welfare
                          - Resource: Alcohol and Your Brain Virtual Reality (VR) Experience
                          - Resource: Anniversaries and Trigger Events
                          - Resource: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
                          - Resource: Back to School Checklist for Parents
                          - Resource: Back-to-School 2023 Toolkit: Healthy Youth, Successful Futures
                          - Resource: BAM! Body and Mind Classroom Resources for Teachers
                          - Resource: Basics of Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis
                          - Resource: Behavior Management
                          - Resource: Behavioral Health Beneficiary Survey
                          - Resource: Beyond the ACE Score: Perspectives on Child Trauma and Adversity Screening and Impact
                          - Resource: Broadband Access Landscape
                          - Resource: Building Educator Pipelines Through Service 
                          - Resource: Building Infrastructure for Surveillance of Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences: Integrated, Multimethod Approaches to Generate Data for Prevention Action
                          - Resource: Bullying and Trauma
                          - Resource: Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
                          - Resource: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Investments in Adverse Childhood Experience Prevention Efforts
                          - Resource: Child and Adolescent Mental Health Concerns: Signs and Symptoms
                          - Resource: Child Victims and Witnesses Support Materials
                          - Resource: Child Welfare in the News
                          - Resource: Classroom WISE
                          - Resource: Co-Regulation in Human Services
                          - Resource: Co-Regulation in Practice Series -- Strategies for Practitioners Who Serve Youth Aged 14-24
                          - Resource: Co-regulation: What It Is and Why it Matters Video
                          - Resource: Community-Led Suicide Prevention Toolkit
                          - Resource: Complex Trauma Fact Sheets
                          - Resource: Comprehensive Systems Integration for Adolescent and Young Adult Health (CSI-AYAH)
                          - Resource: Considering Family Context as an Important Element in the Prevention and Intervention of the Development of Teen Dating Violence
                          - Resource: Coping with War and Mass Violence
                          - Resource: Core Youth Outcomes in Youth of Color
                          - Resource: Data Snapshot: Youth Victims of Suicide and Homicide
                          - Resource: Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Hearing Loss
                          - Resource: Dear Adult Leaders: #ListenToYouth
                          - Resource: Developing a Graduate Mental Health Internship Program
                          - Resource: Did You Know?
                          - Resource: Digital Shareables on Child and Adolescent Mental Health
                          - Resource: Drugs of Abuse: A DEA Resource Guide
                          - Resource: Educator Toolkit: Eating Disorder Information for a School Setting
                          - Resource: Effects of Bullying
                          - Resource: Evidence-Based Treatments for Anxiety Disorders in Youth
                          - Resource: Experiences of Victimization Among Latinos: Studies Confirm Significant Victim Mental Health Impact and Mistrust of Authorities
                          - Resource: Fact or Fiction
                          - Resource: Factsheet on Improving Access and Care for Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions
                          - Resource: FAQ on Using Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Institutional Portion Grant Funds to Meet the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Needs of Students
                          - Resource: FAQ Update on 988 Services for LGBTQI+ Youth
                          - Resource: FAQ: Using Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Institutional Portion Grant Funds to Meet the Basic Needs of Students
                          - Resource: Federal Evidence Agenda on LGBTQI+ Equity
                          - Resource: Find Support for Issues with Mental Health, Drugs, or Alcohol
                          - Resource: Five Things About Juvenile Delinquency Intervention and Treatment
                          - Resource: Flourishing in Adolescence: A Virtual Workshop: Proceedings of a Workshop
                          - Resource: Framing Adolescent Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic
                          - Resource: From Crisis to Care: Building from 988 and Beyond for Better Mental Health Outcomes
                          - Resource: Future Self Tool
                          - Resource: Gender-Affirming Care and Young People
                          - Resource: Get Yourself Tested (GYT) for High Schools
                          - Resource: Give Your Kids a Healthy Body and Mind This Summer
                          - Resource: Good Behavior Game
                          - Resource: Guidance for Immigrant and Refugee Families: Parenting in a New Country
                          - Resource: Guide to the Eight Professional Competencies for Higher Education Substance Misuse Prevention
                          - Resource: Guides for How to Incorporate Coregulation with Older Youth in Foster Care
                          - Resource: Guiding Principles and Best Practices in School Discipline to Support Students’ Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Academic Needs
                          - Resource: Guiding Principles on School Discipline
                          - Resource: Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT)
                          - Resource: Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication
                          - Resource: Health-Care Coverage for Children and Youth in Foster Care - and After
                          - Resource: Healthy Native Youth Community of Practice Sessions
                          - Resource: Healthy Native Youth Stand-Alone Lessons
                          - Resource: Helping Kids Recover and Thrive
                          - Resource: Helping Students Cope with School Tragedies and Community Violence
                          - Resource: Helping Youth Cope after a Mass Shooting
                          - Resource: Hiding in Plain Site: Youth Mental Illness
                          - Resource: Highlights From the 2020 Juvenile Residential Facility Census
                          - Resource: How to Grow Teacher Wellbeing in Your Schools
                          - Resource: How to Help Children and Teens Manage Their Stress
                          - Resource: How to Talk About Mental Health: For Parents and Caregivers
                          - Resource: Human Trafficking Implications for Adolescent Health Outcomes Tip Sheet
                          - Resource: Improving Mental, Behavioral and Academic Supports to Students and Families
                          - Resource: Improving Retention Through Trauma-Informed Approach
                          - Resource: Inclusive Practices Help All Students Thrive
                          - Resource: Infographics on Trauma-Informed Advocacy for Survivors of Human Trafficking at Points of Contact
                          - Resource: Interconnecting Mental Health and Behavioral Support Improves School Safety
                          - Resource: Intergenerational Engagement
                          - Resource: Key Considerations for Applying an Equity Lens to Collaborative Practice
                          - Resource: Learning Center for the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
                          - Resource: Leveraging State Policy to Support Positive Mental Health and Employment for Youth with Marginalized Racial Identities
                          - Resource: LGBTQ Inclusivity Tool
                          - Resource: LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Experiencing Homelessness
                          - Resource: Local School Wellness Policy Refresh
                          - Resource: Maltreatment in Foster Care
                          - Resource: Measuring the Impact of Professional Development
                          - Resource: Medicaid in Schools
                          - Resource: MENtal Health
                          - Resource: Mental Health Awareness Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness
                          - Resource: Mental Health Literacy Courses
                          - Resource: Mental Health Matters, Why Black Dad’s Positive Mental Health Is Good for Youth Academic Outcomes
                          - Resource: Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth
                          - Resource: National Clearinghouse on Homeless Youth and Families (NCHYF)
                          - Resource: National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Care
                          - Resource: National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS) Aligned Programs in all 50 States
                          - Resource: National Training and Development Curriculum (NTDC)
                          - Resource: NCFY
                          - Resource: OJJDP Urges System Reform During Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM)
                          - Resource: One-Fifth of Young Adults Have Tried Prescription Drugs Off-Script
                          - Resource: Online Mental Health Resources
                          - Resource: Parenting Your Adopted Teenager
                          - Resource: Partnering With Colleges and Universities to Improve Your K–12 School Mental Health System
                          - Resource: Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress Toolkit for Health Care Providers
                          - Resource: Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach
                          - Resource: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Training
                          - Resource: Preventing Suicide Requires a Comprehensive Approach
                          - Resource: Prevention Profiles: Take Five – David Anderson
                          - Resource: Prevention with a Purpose
                          - Resource: Prevention with a Purpose: Campus Health/Counseling Center Administrators
                          - Resource: Problematic Sexual Behavior of Children and Youth (PSB-CY): Clinical Assessment and Treatment Overview Training Courses New Online Training Courses to Address Youth with Problematic Sexual Behavior
                          - Resource: Promoting Family and Child Well-Being
                          - Resource: Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders
                          - Resource: Promoting Resilience and Emotional Health for Children, Youth, & Families with Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)
                          - Resource: Providing Culturally Competent Mental Health Care to LGBTQIA+ Youth & Young Adults
                          - Resource: Psychiatric Diagnoses in Youth and Young Adults Video
                          - Resource: Psychological First Aid: How to Help Students Recover After a Personal, Community, or School-Based Emergency
                          - Resource: Reducing Homelessness Among Young People Transitioning from Foster Care
                          - Resource: Remembering Trauma: Connecting the Dots between Complex Trauma and Misdiagnosis in Youth
                          - Resource: Resilience, Opportunity, Safety, Education, Strength (ROSES) Program
                          - Resource: Responding to the Current Youth Mental Health Crisis and Preventing the Next One
                          - Resource: Responding to Youth and Young Adult Mental Health Needs
                          - Resource: Rethinking Service Array for Young People Transitioning from Child Welfare
                          - Resource: Returning to School After a Crisis – A Guide to Addressing Traumatic Events at School
                          - Resource: Risk and Protective Factors for Suicidality
                          - Resource: SAFE Family Support Locator
                          - Resource: SAMHSA's National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification (Spanish Version)
                          - Resource: School Connectedness Helps Students Thrive
                          - Resource: School Employee Wellness
                          - Resource: School Nurses Mental Health Study
                          - Resource: Self Care Lesson Plan
                          - Resource: Self-Regulation and Toxic Stress Series
                          - Resource: Service and Advocacy Organization Leaders Share Insights for an Applied Research Agenda on Black Children and Families
                          - Resource: Sleep in Middle and High School Students
                          - Resource: Social Influencers of Health and Education Needs Assessment: A Pathway for School Health and Mental Health Professionals
                          - Resource: Social-Emotional Learning and Mental Health Toolkit: Support for Systems and Programs
                          - Resource: Stability of Mental Disorder Prevalence Estimates Among School-aged Children and Adolescents: Findings from the Community-based Project to Learn about Youth
                          - Resource: Standing Together to Prevent Bullying
                          - Resource: Starter Guide: Trauma-Informed Care for Adolescents in Primary Care
                          - Resource: State-Level Estimates of the Prevalence of Parent-Reported ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment Among U.S. Children and Adolescents, 2016 to 2019
                          - Resource: Stop Overdose
                          - Resource: Strategies for Involving Parents in School Health
                          - Resource: Strategies to Help Parents and Families Create Healthy and Supportive School Environments
                          - Resource: Strengthening Kinship Care and Prioritizing Equitable Support for Kinship Caregivers
                          - Resource: Strengthening Kinship Care and Prioritizing Equitable Support for Kinship Caregivers
                          - Resource: Student Voice Data: Current State of Mental Health
                          - Resource: Substance Misuse and Eating Disorders
                          - Resource: Substance Use Treatment Programs
                          - Resource: Suicide Prevention Resource for Action
                          - Resource: Suicide Provisional Estimates
                          - Resource: Supporting and Responding to Students’ Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Needs: Evidence-Based Practices for Educators
                          - Resource: Supporting Families with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
                          - Resource: Supporting Native Youth into Adulthood
                          - Resource: Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth
                          - Resource: Technical Assistance Centers to Accelerate Learning and Support Student Wellbeing
                          - Resource: The Impact of COVID-19 on College and University Students Who Self-Injure: Risks and Strategies for Mitigation
                          - Resource: The National Center for Youth with Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity & Expression (The National SOGIE Center) 
                          - Resource: The National Partnership for Student Success
                          - Resource: The Roles Kids Play in Bullying
                          - Resource: The Trauma-Informed Teacher Tip Guide
                          - Resource: Tip Sheets on Everyday Parenting Topics
                          - Resource: Tips to Support Healthy Routines for Children and Teens
                          - Resource: Tools for Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Youth
                          - Resource: Training and Technical Assistance Related to COVID-19
                          - Resource: Trauma-Informed Care and Fostering Resilience Video Collection
                          - Resource: Trauma-Informed Practice Strategies (TIPS) for Supporting Caregivers of Native Youth in Out-of-Home Care
                          - Resource: Treatment for Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, and Suicide Attempts Among Youth
                          - Resource: U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health
                          - Resource: U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection
                          - Resource: Understanding Child Trauma
                          - Resource: Unregulated Custody Transfers of Adopted Children
                          - Resource: Warning Signs for Youth
                          - Resource: Why Some Youth Bully
                          - Resource: Youth Acceptance Project
                          - Resource: Youth Advisory Councils
                          - Resource: Youth AFFIRM: Affirmative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning (LGBTQ+) Populations
                          - Resource: Youth Mental Health Report
                          - Resource: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2021 Data
                          - Resource: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2021 Data
                          - Resource: Youth Voices
                          - Resources for Professionals and Others Supporting Young People During Times of Uncertainty
                          - Resources: Briefs on Prolonged Youth Homelessness
                          - Resources: School-Based Health Care Awareness Month
                          - Resources: Social and Emotional Climate and Learning Resources for Parents, Families, and Schools
                          - SAMHSA’s KSOC-TV: Trauma-Informed Approaches to Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health
                          - School-Based Strategies for Addressing the Mental Health and Well-Being of Youth in the Wake of COVID-19
                          - September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
                          - Share with Youth: A Roadmap to Behavioral Health: A Guide to Using Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services
                          - Share with Youth: Build a Safety Plan
                          - Share with Youth: Changing the Rules: A Guide for Youth and Young Adults with Mental Health Conditions Who Want to Change Policy
                          - Share with Youth: College and Your Mental Health
                          - Share with Youth: Never Give Up: A Complex Trauma Film by Youth for Youth
                          - Share with Youth: Public Health Associate Program (PHAP)
                          - Share with Youth: Safety Plan Tip Sheet
                          - Share with Youth: Substance Use Prevention Resources for Youth and College Students
                          - Share with Youth: Tips For Social Distancing, Quarantine, And Isolation During An Infectious Disease Outbreak
                          - Student Reports of Bullying: Results from the 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey
                          - Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth: A Guide for Foster Parents
                          - Toolkit: Celebrating our Magic: Resources for American Indian/Alaska Native Transgender and TwoSpirit Youth, Their Relatives and Families, and their Healthcare Providers
                          - Training: Resilience Strategies for Institutions of Higher Education: Techniques for Self-Care and Compassion Fatigue Prevention
                          - U.S. Department of Education Creates National Parents and Families Engagement Council to Help Ensure Pandemic Recovery Efforts Meet Students’ Needs
                          - Webinar Recording: Building Parent Leadership and Power to Support Faster, Lasting Reunification and Prevent System Involvement
                          - Webinar Recording: Education, Special Education, and Accommodations for Students with Psychosis: Working with Youth, Families, Teachers, and Schools
                          - Webinar Recording: Giving Hope: Serving and Supporting Fathers with Mental Health Challenges
                          - Webinar Recording: School Safety Federal Training and Technical Assistance Centers
                          - Webinar Recording: Social Science Research and the Mental Health Crisis in Minority Youths and Adolescents
                          - Webinar Series: Rooting Young Adult Mental Health Services in Culturally Sustaining Values & Practices
                          - Webinar Series: Shielding Your Well-Being: Post-Traumatic Growth
                          - Webinar: Tribal Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
                          - Webinars: Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT)
                          - Youth Voices Have Moved to YE4C

### Collaboration Profiles 

                          - About the Program
                          - About the Program
                          - Lessons Learned
                          - National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS)
                          - Program Collaboration
                          - Program Components
                          - References
                          - Resources
                          - Y2CONNECT.org
                          - Youth M.O.V.E. National: Making a Difference through Youth-Adult Partnerships
                          - Youth M.O.V.E. National: Making a Difference through Youth-Adult Partnerships

### Data Sources 

                          - 2011-2021 YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report
                          - 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Results
                          - America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well Being
                          - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
                          - Child Health USA
                          - HHS Data Council Gateway to Data and Statistics
                          - National Center for Health Statistics

### Departments 

                          - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

### Feature Articles 

                          - Archived Event: Understanding and Coping with Trauma & Building Resiliency
                          - Celebrating Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and National Mental Health Awareness Month
                          - Department of Education Opportunity: Performance Partnership Pilots for Disconnected Youth
                          - Federal Government Releases Annual Statistical Report on the Well-Being of the Children and Youth
                          - Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit
                          - Healthy Youth Development through Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation
                          - Highlights from the 2012 Summit on Preventing Youth Violence
                          - Just Launched! Redesigned YE4C
                          - Making Healthy Choices:  A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care
                          - May is National Mental Health Month
                          - National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day 2010
                          - National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is May 3, 2011!
                          - New Infographic on Youth Mental Health
                          - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month
                          - Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools
                          - Promoting Positive Adolescent Health Behaviors and Outcomes: Thriving in the 21st Century
                          - Report on Well-Being of Nation’s Children Released
                          - SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach
                          - September is National Recovery Month
                          - The Changing Transition to Adulthood: A TAG Talk
                          - The Crisis of Connection for Adolescent Boys: A TAG Talk
                          - The Power of the Adolescent Brain: A TAG Talk
                          - Through Social Media, Youth Share Insights on Caring for Self and Community

### Hotlines 

                          - Disaster Distress Hotline
                          - TXT 4 HELP Interactive

### Programs 

                          - Caring for Every Child's Mental Health
                          - Children's Health Insurance Program
                          - John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood
                          - National Academies Board on Children, Youth, and Families
                          - Project Launch
                          - Promise Neighborhoods
                          - Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grants
                          - THRIVE Media Campaign to Prevent Suicide and Bullying Among American Indian/Alaska Native Youth

### Publications 

                          - 2014 NSDUH Report on Mental and Substance Use Disorders
                          - Adolescents Play a Key Role in Their Own ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment
                          - Aftercare Services
                          - America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being
                          - American Red Cross and FEMA: Helping Children Cope with Disaster
                          - Behavioral Health, United States, 2012
                          - Bullying and Suicide: A Public Health Approach
                          - CDC Data on Rates of Autism Spectrum Disorder
                          - Childhood Trauma and Its Effect on Healthy Development
                          - Children and Youth Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series
                          - Children and Youth—SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series installment
                          - Circles of Care Address Health Disparities in Native Communities
                          - Coping with School Tragedies
                          - Culture and Trauma
                          - DSM-5 Changes — Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance
                          - Emergency Department Visits for Drug-Related Suicide Attempts Have Increased
                          - FDA: Don’t Leave Childhood Depression Untreated
                          - Guideposts for Success for Youth with Mental Health Needs
                          - Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
                          - Helping Youth After Community Trauma: Tips for Educators
                          - Identifying Mental Health and Substance Use Problems of Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Child-Serving Organizations
                          - Impact of Behavioral Health Conditions and Treatment on Older Adolescents and Young Adults
                          - Juvenile Justice Journal, Vol. VII, No. 1 (Mental Health Issue)
                          - Making Healthy Choices: A Guide on Psychotropic Medications for Youth in Foster Care
                          - Mental Health Surveillance Among Children — United States, 2005-2011
                          - Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General
                          - Mental Health: The First Step to Well Being
                          - National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2013 Short Report, May 9, 2013
                          - National Community Anti-Drug Institute Primer Series
                          - Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People
                          - Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools
                          - Preventing Suicide: Following up After the Crisis
                          - Projections of National Expenditures for Treatment of Mental and Substance Use Disorders, 2010-2020
                          - Promoting Recovery and Independence for Older Adolescents and Young Adults Who Experience Serious Mental Health Challenges
                          - Promoting Recovery and Resilience for Children and Youth Involved in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems
                          - Psychological First Aid Kit
                          - Psychosocial Issues for Children and Adolescents in Disasters
                          - PTSD, Trauma, and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders in Detained Youth
                          - Q&A: Helping Families Protect Themselves From Recurring Trauma
                          - QuickStats: Percentage of Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years with Diagnosed Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), By Race and Hispanic Ethnicity — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 1997–2014
                          - Refugee Services Toolkit
                          - Results from the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) H-47: Mental Health Findings
                          - SAMHSA's 2015–2018 Strategic Plan
                          - SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach
                          - Serious Mental Health Challenges Among Older Adolescents and Young Adults
                          - Spanish Version: Tips for Talking With and Helping Children and Youth Cope After a Disaster or Traumatic Event: A Guide for Parents, Caregivers, and Teachers
                          - Special Education and the Juvenile Justice System
                          - Suicides — United States, 2005–2009
                          - Support for Colleges to Assess and Enhance Mental Health Programming
                          - Teen Girls and Major Depressive Episodes
                          - The Effective Management of Juvenile Sex Offenders in the Community
                          - The Northwestern Juvenile Project: Overview
                          - The Role of High School Mental Health Providers in Preventing Suicide
                          - The Teen Brain: Still Under Construction
                          - Three Words Everyone With Mental Illness Should Learn
                          - TIP 57: Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services
                          - Tips for College Students: R U A Survivor of a Disaster or Other Trauma?
                          - Trauma and the Teen Brain
                          - Trauma-Informed Approaches: Federal Activities and Initiatives
                          - Trauma-informed Care and Outcomes Among Youth
                          - Voices from the Field: Why People Take Risks
                          - What Promotes Resilience Among Alaska Native Youth?
                          - When a Child's Parent Has PTSD
                          - Working with Unaccompanied and Immigrant Minors

### Resources 

                          - 5 Tips for Providing Trauma-Informed Sex Education
                          - Behavioral Health Equity Barometer
                          - Boys More Likely to Have Antipsychotics Prescribed, Regardless of Age
                          - Brief: Developing a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System
                          - Child Trauma and its Effects: Implications for Police
                          - Coping with Grief After Community Violence
                          - Domestic and International Adoption: Strategies to Improve Behavioral Health Outcomes for Youth and Their Families
                          - Handbook for Recovery after a Suicide Attempt
                          - Healthy Youth Mental Health
                          - Improving Attachment Between Mothers and Children
                          - Mental Health Awareness in Times of Emotional Distress
                          - New NIMH Strategic Plan Aims to Focus, Accelerate Mental Health Research
                          - OJJDP Releases Research on Youth's Mental Health Needs and Long-Term Outcomes after Detention
                          - OJJDP Safe Start Center
                          - Quick Guide for Clinicians Based on TIP 57: Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services
                          - Recent Event: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
                          - Recording Available: Addressing the Behavioral Health Needs of Adopted Children and Youth
                          - Report: Adverse Childhood Experiences and Life Opportunities
                          - Report: Behavioral Health Barometer, Volume 4
                          - Report: Comparison of Physical Health Conditions among Adolescents Aged 12 to 17 with and without Major Depressive Episode
                          - Report: Prevalence of Parent-Reported Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Diagnosis and Associated Treatment Among U.S. Children and Adolescents, 2016
                          - Report: Racial and Gender Disparities in Suicide Among Young Adults
                          - Report: Serious Thoughts of Suicide Among Young Adults
                          - Report: Testing Interpretation Bias Training (IBT)
                          - Reports: Regional Behavioral Health Barometers
                          - Resource: Anniversaries and Trigger Events
                          - Resource: Arts-Based Programs and Arts Therapies Literature Review
                          - Resource: Arts-Based Programs and Arts Therapies Webpage
                          - Resource: Campaign to Change Direction
                          - Resource: Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness
                          - Resource: Complex Trauma Fact Sheets
                          - Resource: Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center
                          - Resource: Evidence-Based Treatments for Anxiety Disorders in Youth
                          - Resource: Helping Kids Recover and Thrive
                          - Resource: Helping Youth Prevent Suicide Among Their LGBTQ Peers
                          - Resource: Integrating Medical and Mental Health Care for Teen Moms
                          - Resource: Learning Center for the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices
                          - Resource: LGBTQ Youth: Voices of Trauma, Lives of Promise
                          - Resource: Mass Violence and Behavioral Health
                          - Resource: Mental Health Needs of Youth
                          - Resource: Narrative Writing Exercises for Promoting Health Among Adolescents: Promises and Pitfalls
                          - Resource: Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress Toolkit for Health Care Providers
                          - Resource: Remembering Trauma: Connecting the Dots between Complex Trauma and Misdiagnosis in Youth
                          - Resource: Reports and Detailed Tables from the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
                          - Resource: SAMHSA eBooks
                          - Resource: SAMHSA’s Data Archive
                          - Resource: Social Media as a Tool for Addressing Behavioral Health
                          - Resource: Strategies to Build Family and Youth Engagement to Keep Kids in School
                          - Resource: Substance Use and Suicide: A Nexus Requiring a Public Health Approach
                          - Resource: Support for Families When a Suicide Attempt Hits Home
                          - Resource: Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda
                          - Resource: Understanding Child Trauma
                          - Resource: Understanding Child Trauma
                          - Resource: Understanding Neurobiology of Psychological Trauma: Tips for Working with Transition-Age Youth
                          - Resource: Virtual Learning Lab for Campus Suicide Prevention
                          - Resources on Trauma and Youth in the Juvenile Justice System; Trauma Among Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
                          - Resources on Trauma and Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: Assessing Exposure to Psychological Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress in the Juvenile Justice Population
                          - Resources on Trauma and Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: Evidence-Informed Interventions for Posttraumatic Stress Problems with Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System
                          - SAMHSA Supports Individuals with Serious Mental Illness and Serious Emotional Disturbance
                          - Scientists Spot Gene Tied to Severe Autism
                          - Share with Youth: A Roadmap to Behavioral Health: A Guide to Using Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services
                          - Share with Youth: Advice to Young Adults from Young Adults: Helpful Hints for Policy Change in the Mental Health System
                          - Share with Youth: Changing the Rules: A Guide for Youth and Young Adults with Mental Health Conditions Who Want to Change Policy
                          - Share with Youth: College and Your Mental Health
                          - Share with Youth: Family Education Materials
                          - Share with Youth: Never Give Up: A Complex Trauma Film by Youth for Youth
                          - Share With Youth: Stay Informed — It Could Save A Life
                          - Share with Youth: Teen Depression
                          - Slideshow: 5 Collaborations to Ensure Trauma-Informed Care for Youth and Families
                          - Targeting Suicide
                          - Testifying in Court about Trauma: The Court Hearing
                          - The Anatomy of NIMH Funding
                          - Tips for Survivors of a Disaster or Other Traumatic Event: Coping with Retraumatization
                          - Traumatic Stress and Suicide after Disasters
                          - Youth Risk and Behavior Survey: Data Summary and Trends Report, 2007 - 2017
                          - YRBSS Results: Reports and Fact Sheets

### Technical Assistance 

                          - Bureau of Justice Assistance Training and Technical Assistance
                          - Centers for the Application of Prevention Technologies
                          - Health Center Program Technical Assistance
                          - Homelessness Resource Center
                          - National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth (NCFY)
                          - National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
                          - National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health
                          - PACER Center's Technical Assistance on Transition and the Rehabilitation Act (TATRA) Project
                          - Technical Assistance ALLIANCE for Parent Centers National Office, PACER Center

### Tools & Guides 

                          - 3 Bold Steps for School Community Change
                          - Behavioral Health Services Locator
                          - Bringing Communities Together for Mental Health — Leaders Guide
                          - Complex Trauma Resource Webpage
                          - Guide to Community Preventive Services
                          - Healthy Youth - Evaluation
                          - Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA's Roles and Actions 2011 - 2014 Accomplishments Report
                          - National Behavioral Health Barometer
                          - National Prevention Week 2014 Participant Toolkit
                          - Psychological First Aid
                          - Resource: Promoting Positive Pathways to Adulthood: Pathways Transition Training Toolkit
                          - SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP)
                          - Suicide Safe: The Suicide Prevention App for Health Care Providers Free from SAMHSA
                          - Tunnels and Cliffs: A Guide for Workforce Development Practitioners and Policymakers Serving Youth with Mental Health Needs

### Training Resources 

                          - New Online Course from SAMHSA: Managing Anger

### Videos & Podcasts 

                          - Growing Up Girl — A "Girls Matter!" Webinar
                          - Is it ADHD or Trauma Symptoms?
                          - National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day 2014 Launch Event
                          - Now Available: Children's Mental Health Awareness Day Webcast
                          - Podcast: Tips for Helping Children and Youth Cope in the Aftermath of Disasters
                          - Resource: Psychiatric Diagnoses in Youth and Young Adults Video
                          - SPRC Launches New Video Series
                          - The Girl in the Mirror: Behavioral Health of Adolescent Girls — A "Girls Matter!" Webinar
                          - Watch Archived Session: ACA and Its Impact on Recovery Services

### Webinars & Presentations 

                          - Webinar Recording: Bullying Prevention and Suicide Prevention for Schools

### Websites 

                          - Adolescent Development Explained
                          - Adolescent Health
                          - Center for Mental Health Services
                          - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coping With a Disaster or Traumatic Event
                          - Depression and College Students
                          - Girls Health
                          - Healthy People 2020
                          - Healthy Youth
                          - Interagency Council on Homelessness
                          - MentalHealth.gov
                          - OK2TALK: Help for Youth
                          - Online Community for Children of Military Families
                          - Resource: Child and Adolescent Mental Health
                          - Suicide Prevention Resources

### Youth Topics 

                          - Suicide Prevention

## Youth Briefs

How Individualized Education Program (IEP) Transition Planning Makes a Difference for Youth with Disabilities
Youth who receive special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and especially young adults of transition age, should be involved in planning for life after high school as early as possible and no later than age 16. Transition services should stem from the individual youth’s needs and strengths, ensuring that planning takes into account his or her interests, preferences, and desires for the future.

Youth Transitioning to Adulthood: How Holding Early Leadership Positions Can Make a Difference
Research links early leadership with increased self-efficacy and suggests that leadership can help youth to develop decision making and interpersonal skills that support successes in the workforce and adulthood. In addition, young leaders tend to be more involved in their communities, and have lower dropout rates than their peers. Youth leaders also show considerable benefits for their communities, providing valuable insight into the needs and interests of young people

How Trained Service Professionals and Self-Advocacy Makes a Difference for Youth with Mental Health, Substance Abuse, or Co-occurring Issues
Statistics reflecting the number of youth suffering from mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders highlight the necessity for schools, families, support staff, and communities to work together to develop targeted, coordinated, and comprehensive transition plans for young people with a history of mental health needs and/or substance abuse.

Young Adults Formerly in Foster Care: Challenges and Solutions
Nearly 30,000 youth aged out of foster care in Fiscal Year 2009, which represents nine percent of the young people involved in the foster care system that year. This transition can be challenging for youth, especially youth who have grown up in the child welfare system.

Coordinating Systems to Support Transition Age Youth with Mental Health Needs
Research has demonstrated that as many as one in five children/youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Read about how coordination between public service agencies can improve treatment for these youth.

Civic Engagement Strategies for Transition Age Youth
Civic engagement has the potential to empower young adults, increase their self-determination, and give them the skills and self-confidence they need to enter the workforce. Read about one youth’s experience in AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC).

## Main navigation

- Mental Health
- Key Terms
- Developmental Competencies & Resilience
- Prevalence
- Risk & Protective Factors
- Warning Signs
- Co-occurring Disorders
- Specific Disorders
- Effects
- Attitudes & Discrimination
- Promotion & Prevention
- Trauma Informed Approaches
- Treatment Options
- School-Based Supports
- References

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### Announcements

Resource: Race Equity Challenge

Community Programs for Outreach and Intervention with Youth and Young Adults at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis (Funding Opportunity)

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### Collaboration Profiles

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Lessons Learned

### Data Sources

2011-2021 YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report

2011-2021 YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report

2011-2021 YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report

### Feature Articles

Healthy Youth Development through Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation

Archived Event: Understanding and Coping with Trauma & Building Resiliency

Promoting Positive Adolescent Health Behaviors and Outcomes: Thriving in the 21st Century

### Publications

DSM-5 Changes — Implications for Child Serious Emotional Disturbance

QuickStats: Percentage of Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years with Diagnosed Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), By Race and Hispanic Ethnicity — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 1997–2014

2014 NSDUH Report on Mental and Substance Use Disorders

### Resources

YRBSS Results: Reports and Fact Sheets

Youth Risk and Behavior Survey: Data Summary and Trends Report, 2007 - 2017

Coping with Grief After Community Violence

### Youth Topics

Suicide Prevention