There’s an important post on Teen Librarian Toolbox about mental health, teens, and the impact that we as adults in their lives can have.  One quote:  “the weight of our words is a burden that our teens will carry with them long after we have forgotten that we have even spoken them.  So choose your words wisely each and every time.”

I think it is also true that at times, our words can be a gift that our teens carry with them long after we have forgotten we have spoken them.  Respect, kindness, validation all have a deep and lasting affect as well.  And the more we know about issues related to mental health, the more likely we are to be able to be giving a gift instead of a burden.

Some resources for helping you learn about teens and mental health:

http://teenmentalhealth.org/learn/mental-disorders/

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Local resources:
Mental Health Task Force of Polk County
Chippewa Valley Mental Health Matters

Pew Research Center has a new survey report out about the way teens and parents view screen time.  I read the overview , and here are a few things I thought were interesting:

• More than half of parents feel like teens are distracted from in-person conversations by their phone.  But guess what?  More than half of teens feel like parents are distracted from in-person conversations by their phone, too.
• Just over half of teens feel like they spend too much time on their phones, while 36% of parents do.  At the same time, teens are less likely to be distracted at school by their phones than parents are to be distracted at work.
• Nearly 90 percent of teens report that excessive time online is a problem facing people their age.
• Forty-nine percent of girls and 38 of boys report feeling anxious when they don’t have their phones with them, but more than half report cutting back on screen use.
• Fifty-seven percent of parents place limits on teen use of screens, and 86 percent of parents feel very confident in knowing the amount of screen time that is good for their children.

The Center for Disease Control is out with statistics about youth and risk, based on a survey of 13-17-year olds.  Some interesting trends:

Sexual activity is down, but among teens having sex, condom use is also down.

In most other measures, the general trend for teens and risk is either about the same or going towards less risky, except in the areas of mental health.  The percentage of students who feel persistently sad and hopeless; those who have considered suicide attempts; and those who were injured in suicide attempts has all risen.

And similar to the study done a decade ago, teens who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual have significantly more difficulty.  They are:

• More than twice as likely to experience electronic bullying
• About twice as likely to be bullied on school grounds
• Nearly three times as likely to have been forced to have sex
• About 2.5 times more likely to be feeling persistently sad and hopeless
• More than three times as likely to have attempted suicide, and more than four times as likely to have been seriously injured as a result of an attempt.

The American Library Association is sponsoring grants for libraries to conduct book clubs with underserved teens:

“Working with small groups of teens, grantees will host reading and discussion programs for up to four thematically related books. The titles—selected in consultation with librarian advisors and humanities scholars—are chosen to resonate with reluctant readers struggling with complex issues like academic probation, detention, incarceration, violence and poverty.”

Grantees will have a chance to attend an orientation in Chicago (expenses paid), 11 copies of four books, and additional training and resources.  

Several years ago, the Frederic Public Library received one of these grants to conduct a discussion group in collaboration with the Northwest Passage in-patient treatment facility in their area.  That discussion group, despite no longer being funded by the grant, is still going.  This is a terrific opportunity to reach out to teens in your area who might be falling through the cracks.

If you are interested in applying, but feeling nervous or want some help in thinking about how to do it, please let me know.  I’d love to brainstorm with you at the beginning and look at a draft of your application (due July 9), if you want.

I know summer is busy, but this is the kind of program that might make a difference in your career, and more importantly,  in the lives of some of the teens who need it.

Check out this free community event–I know the presenters and they are smart and thoughtful!  I hope you’ll consider joining me at this event:

Focus on Youth Mental Health:  A Free Community Event
Thursday, May 3, 6-7:30 pm
HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Community Auditorium, Eau Claire

Mental health remains a top health priority in both Chippewa and Eau Claire counties.  This free community event will address the growing concerns for our youth in the Chippewa Valley, identify factors that can help protect youth from poor mental health, and provide resources to support youth in overcoming adversity.  The evening will begin with an engaging presentation by Angie Weideman (Chippewa Public Health Department) and Brook Berg (UW-Extension).  This will be followed by a panel discussion with local experts from the fields of healthcare, human services, and education.

The event is free, but registration is required.
Register here, or call 715-836-3636

• ·         Send information to your school librarians and teachers to pass along to students.
• ·         Make announcements at all programs leading up to Teen Tech Week.
• ·         Reach out to your local newspaper, radio stations, and closest Chamber of Commerce.
• ·         Post it all over your website and social media with the hashtags #TeenTechWeek and #WisconsinLibrary. Ask library users to share your events and post photos.
• ·         Use word of mouth at the circulation and reference desks.
• ·         Reach out to regular library users through email lists and conversations.
• ·         What else could you try?