Name It to Tame It - Understanding Mental Health
By simply naming what you are feeling, you take the first step to understanding what support you may need to manage your mental health. Many of the resources in this Exploration Guide for students in high school are about difficult topics. If you encounter things that make you feel uncomfortable, please take care of your safety and well-being. You can call the 24 hour Crisis Line at 1-866-427-4747.
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Lets Talk About Mental Health Instagram
This Instagram account, maintained by someone who experienced an eating disorder, exemplifies the idea that "you have to name it to tame it." Talking about your mental health is the first step to understanding it. This page offers inclusive stories led by mental health professionals, as well as posts that link to resources which are meant to help folks begin having these conversations.
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Self-Care Tips | To Write Love On Her Arms
Self-care is part of having good mental health. Taking time out for yourself gives you the chance to breathe and decide what support you may need moving forward. Just like everyone has different mental health, everyone may need different forms of self-care. This page covers a number of things you can do!
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Teens React to Teen Mental Health in Film and TV | FBE
Oftentimes, if we have never met a person that may be experiencing a specific mental health issue, we may base our assumptions on what we see in the media. This, among many other reasons, is why representation matters. Mental health looks different for everyone, and much like the teens mention in this video, we shouldn’t take a singular representation as to the absolute truth.
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Lighter Than My Shadow
CONTENT WARNING: This resource contains an account of sexual assault. Lighter Than My Shadow is an intimate self-drawn story of author Katie Green's journey managing her own mental health. Katie’s struggles with OCD, eating disorders, anxiety, trauma and recovery paint an elegant portrait of the nuances of mental health issues. Katie felt that something was wrong, but couldn't explain why or what was happening to her, so she wrote this book as a way to find those words.
Format: Downloadable Graphic Novel
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Coping with Severe OCD as a Teenager | Vice
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is often misunderstood and misrepresented in pop culture. It is so much more than needing to have things organized or clean. This is the story of one teen’s personal struggles managing her OCD and de-stigmatizing the illness for others in her community.
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The Truth Doctor, Dr. Courtney Tracy TikTok
Dr. Courtney Tracy is affectionately referred to as TikTok’s therapist because her videos are inviting and cover a spectrum of topics related to mental health. Through her work as the “Truth Doctor,” she has been able to use her medical professional expertise to navigate complicated topics about mental health, trauma, recovery and psychology in a very accessible way.
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The Mask You Live In
CONTENT WARNING: This resource contains references to rape and sexual assault, physical abuse, pornography and gun violence. For many men, having mental health issues is seen as a weakness. The Mask You Live in follows boys and young men as they struggle to stay true to themselves while negotiating America's narrow definition of masculinity.
Format: Streaming Video
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Depression | Teen Mental Health Speaks
Depression affects people’s thoughts, feelings, actions and even their physical activities. There is a very delicate line between feeling depressed and having depression, but both are absolutely treatable. This zine will give you a clear distinction between the emotion and mental illness, and ways to cope. If you would like to try to make your own mental health zine follow this link: http://thestrangeisbeautiful.com/how-to-make-your-own-mental-health-zine/
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Addiction | NOVA PBS
This resource contains accounts of drug use. Hear from individuals struggling with addiction and follow the cutting-edge work of doctors and scientists as they investigate why addiction is not a moral failing, but a chronic, treatable medical condition. Addiction can touch anyone, so if you are looking for a place just for teens who are affected by someone else’s alcoholism, follow this link: https://al-anon.org/newcomers/teen-corner-alateen/
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Where to Turn for Teens | Teen Link
Teen Link 1.866.TEENLINK (833.6546) is a program that serves all youth in Washington state. They offer support locally in Seattle whether you are feeling anxious or just need someone to talk to. This is a helpful list of where you can turn to for help.
View Where to Turn for Teens | Teen Link