Suicide Prevention Hotline:

Text or Call #988

Mental Health Resources

​A large goal for our organization is to spread awareness on the topics of mental health. This is incredibly important to us, as ignorance is one of the main reasons that teenagers don’t receive treatment for their mental health issues. The lack of awareness around mental health is also a cause behind the stigma surrounding this topic. Many adolescents don’t recognize their own mental issues, and when they do, they may deny it due to the stigma around it. So, Hopeful Hearts For Teens aims to make the general population more knowledgeable on the topic of mental health and hopefully, remove some stigma as a result of that work.

​This page is dedicated to providing reliable and current information on several aspects of mental illnesses. Remember that mental health is complex, and sharing inaccurate information is harmful to communities. For this reason, fact-check the information you read with up-to-date and attested articles. All the sources used to publish this information can be found in the works cited pages at the bottom of each section.

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Depression
Depression is more than just feeling sad, it's a complex mental health condition that can impact how you think, feel, and handle daily activities. Newport Academy warns that "11.5 percent of youth are experiencing major depressive disorder," a significantly concerning statistic. Among these depressed students, "3 out of 5 did not receive mental health services." According to the National Library of Medicine, "Psychological treatment can help someone out of the emotional depths of depression and keep them from becoming depressed again." Often, individuals dealing with depression benefit from having someone they can confide in about their emotions. If you're concerned that someone you know may be having suicidal thoughts or plans, don't hesitate to reach out to a trusted adult and inform them.
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                                    Works Cited

Stress
According to Imed Bouchrika, a data scientist, in “academic pressure statistics, it was found out that three-quarters (75%) of American high schoolers and half of the middle schoolers described themselves as ‘often or always feeling stressed’”. Stress is not only found in adults but in teenagers and children as well. As teens develop, changes in their environment can be overwhelming. High levels of stress detected by their brain sends signals that go to the rest of the body, creating a release of stress hormones and increasing alertness. As a result of these changes, teens react to conflicts differently which may look like attitude or anger to others. Factors that can trigger stress are a busy schedule, an important event, and/or social life. Stress can also lead to symptoms such as irritability, self harm, changes in appetite, changes in sleep, and more. If stress has become an overwhelming factor in everyday life, it is recommended by Mass General Brigham to set boundaries, engage in activities that redirect your thinking, change your environment, or meditation.
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                                             Works Cited

Body Image
Body image struggles is something many teens relate to, especially in today's society. However, a concerning amount of people don't understand the depth and seriousness of this concept. According to Rick M. Gardner, a psychologist at Colorado-Denver, “Body Image (BI) is a multidimensional concept that involves people’s positive and negative perceptions, thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes about their body and appearance.” Body image issues are categorized as the leading cause of the development and relapse of eating disorders, most notably in young adults. A study conducted by YouGov in March 2019 stated that over 30% of 1,118 teenagers felt ashamed and upset about their body image. This means that almost 1 in 3 people are at risk of developing more serious conditions, such as eating disorders and even self-harm. Having issues with your body image or self-esteem does not diagnose you with body dysmorphic disorders, but it is important to be self-aware and seek professional help if you think you or a loved one shows signs of BDD.
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                                          Works Cited

Anxiety
Anxiety is the feeling of “fear, dread, and uneasiness,” according to the NIH, and can often cause people to have sped up heartbeats or sweat. This feeling is a result of stress, and most people experience it regularly and temporarily. For many, feeling anxious can be motivation to focus; for others, anxiety can be a constant roadblock, preventing them from going about daily life. These people have anxiety conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder (PD), or social anxiety disorder (SAD), meaning that their anxiety does not go away and can worsen over time. In the United States, 31.9% are affected by anxiety disorders every year, making it the most common mental illness in the nation. About 3.1% of the U.S. population is impacted by GAD and between 2.9% and 4.6% of adolescents have GAD.
                                    Works Cited                                      

Self-Harm
The Mayo Clinic describes self harm as a form of inflicting pain on oneself that is not life threatening but can eventually lead to suicide. Self-harm can range anywhere from cutting, burning, pulling hair out, poking, and physically bruising/injuring yourself. Some experts say that eating disorders are also a form of self-harm. People at risk of self-harm are: people who’ve been abused, have depression, eating disorders, PTSD, and certain personality disorders, as well as people who are struggling with drugs or alcohol, or have friends who self-harm. All ages have fallen victim to self-harm but it is becoming more and more common in teens. In many cases people who self-harm would eventually try and take their own life and this is why self-harm is becoming such a problem in today's world. It’s crucial to reach out to loved ones around you who you think might self-harm, even if they tell you not to. Such behaviors are likely to worsen if a person who self harms does not get the proper treatment, so tell a trusted adult if you or someone you know does any sort of self-harm.
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                                    Works Cited                                      

Help lines
800-422-4453
National Child Abuse Hotline
800-366-8288
S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Self-Abuse Finally Ends)
800-931-2237
National Eating Disorders Association Helpline
800-662-4357
SAMHSA’s National Helpline (substance abuse and mental health)
800-852-8336
                                  Teen Line (for support and resources)                                 

Stay in touch!

Our monthly newsletters are sent out at the beginning of each month. They are recaps of our fundraising events, big steps for our organization, and a look at what's to come next. Sign up to receive the newsletters made by our Head of Relations, Chloe Chu, and stay informed!

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Find us!

@hh4teens

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 [email protected]

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