This blog is second of a series with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth Advisory Council, created to share and express the issues and ideas that matters to youth while reaching a national audience. Through this space, we hope to acknowledge real life experiences, problems and perspectives that are often overlooked. Today’s post was authored by Sophia F. at Sarah Heinz House with support from Jakeclaude M. at Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.
What Does Mental Health Look Like?
Mental health doesn’t always look the way people expect. It has a wide variety of symptoms that can easily be overlooked or misunderstood. What seems like simple nervousness, anger, or even laziness can actually be signs of deeper emotional struggles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 40% of students have had persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year, and only 58.5% of U.S teens report receiving the social and emotional support they need.
Many think mental health is just depression or anxiety, but that’s not it – mental health is a wide spectrum. From binge eating to homicidal urges, mental health covers it all. The clearest way to explain is that it ranges from everyday stress, emotional ups and downs, to more serious conditions. Everyone experiences mental health differently and can change based on life events, support systems, and coping skills.
Clubs can play a powerful role in changing that statistic. Being a safe place for kids to decompress, relax or confide in others. Speaking from experience, without formal mental health education or support, it can be hard for kids to truly understand their own emotions and thoughts. Having a support system at a Club can make a huge difference—not only in helping youth process what they’re feeling, but also in showing them that they’re not alone.
It’s also important to understand that behavior is often a form of communication. When a child bullies or isolates others, it can reflect insecurity, frustration, or pain. When a child is quiet or labeled as “too emotional,” it may signal anxiety or overwhelming feelings that haven’t been addressed. Recognizing these signs and responding with empathy, rather than judgment, is essential. Boys & Girls Club staff can learn more and strengthen their proactive behavior supports using the new Behavior Support Toolkit on BGCA.net.
How Can I Support Kids and Teens Going Through Mental Health Struggles?
Understanding mental health isn’t just about identifying problems. It’s about creating environments where every child feels safe, valued, and supported. When we do that, we don’t just help individuals; we are building stronger, more compassionate communities. Mary Ann McCabe, PhD, a clinical child and adolescent psychologist and member-at-large of APA’s Board of Directors, says that “social support isn’t one size fits all.”
Creating safe spaces within Clubs—places where kids can talk openly about what they’re going through—can help break that cycle. When young people feel heard and supported, they are more likely to develop healthy ways to process emotions. However, it is important that, though kids can confide in each other, they still feel able to confide in an adult, as kids can try to help friends with challenges that should be addressed by adults.
Unfortunately, many teens still treat mental health as a joke or a sign of weakness. This stigma has real consequences. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that over 60% of youth with depression do not receive any mental health treatment, often because they’re afraid of judgment or don’t feel safe reaching out. In Clubs, it can be as simple as a small lesson, such as a project with the keystone, torch, or Think, Learn, Create Change model to bring awareness to mental health, or being able to talk about it openly in a circle and challenge the misconceptions kids may have about it.
Clubs are powerful spaces for mental health support. They give kids a place to decompress, connect with others, and feel supported outside of school or home. Having mentors and peers who listen and care can help young people better understand their feelings and feel less alone.
Here are some tips for creating a safe environment with no judgment or pressure, where kids can talk without being given advice:
- Sometimes kids need to be heard so as to avoid interrupting or minimizing feelings. Validate their emotions by saying things like “that makes sense” or “I hear you” and don’t openly dismiss them with “You’ll be fine” or “it’s not a big deal”.
- Pay attention to their behavior, look beyond their actions, and ask yourself what you would be feeling if you were in their shoes.
- Encourage healthy coping skills, such as journaling, taking activity breaks, or other strategies.
- Don’t just ignore or push through; take the time to break down the emotions and process them healthily.
- Please don’t make fun of or tease about these issues, as it can make it worse. Typically, when kids are going through a hard time, they usually take these jokes to heart.
- If a child opens up about self-harm, don’t meet their vulnerable moment with disappointment or tell them it can affect their chances of success; these seemingly harmless reactions can silence someone who is already struggling. They need empathy, understanding, and reassurance, not criticism or fear of consequences.
BGCA offers a range of resources to support staff including the Suicide Awareness and Prevention Guide, posters, training and more in the Mental Health Resource Library on BGCA.net..
Supporting kids’ mental health starts with awareness; it’s about listening, understanding, and creating safe spaces where kids feel safe to be themselves.
How to Integrate Mental Health Awareness into Club Lessons
Combining mental health awareness into Club activities works best when it’s woven into everyday activities rather than taught as a one-time topic. Start by creating a supportive environment with simple routines like emotional check-ins, which help normalize talking about feelings and show students that their emotions matter. From there, incorporate short discussions about mental health, emphasizing that it is just as important as physical health and that there should be no stigma around asking for help.
Clubs can also naturally integrate mental health into lessons by teaching empathy and digital responsibility, especially since phones and social media are a major part of students’ lives. Instead of banning devices, guide students on respectful online behavior, consent, and the impact their actions can have on others. Using real-life scenarios or role-playing activities helps students understand what it feels like to experience exclusion or online harm, encouraging more thoughtful choices. Explore resources from BGCA to teach Digital Literacy on ClubPrograms.org.
Another key piece is teaching coping skills through hands-on activities. Students can create tools like worry stones, journals, or calm-down cards that they can use when they feel stressed or overwhelmed. Providing positive ways to use technology, such as creative or collaborative phone activities, also reinforces healthy habits. Click here to download a list of coping skills you can use and teach to youth plus ideas for hands-on activities to include in a Club program session about mental health.
Boys & Girls Club staff can access the SMART Moves Teen Mental Health Guide for more ideas.
By consistently embedding these practices—open conversations, empathy-building, and practical coping strategies—Clubs can create a safe, inclusive space where mental health awareness becomes a natural part of the experience.
Things to Look Out For
All Club staff are mandated reporters. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in teenagers, 3.3% of teens 12-17 commit suicide each year. About 740,000 suicides are reported annually: that’s one death on average every 43 seconds. They were not statistics, they were people with dreams, hopes, and wishes of finding peace. They were unable to reach out. A crisis can look very different depending on the situation; sometimes, people fail to get help before it’s too late. You can help stop that chain.
Knowing the signs can help you notice when someone needs support, talking about hopelessness, being trapped, or saying things like “nothing will ever get better” or “everyone would be better off without me”, withdrawing from things or people they used to enjoy, sudden calmness and acceptance after a long period of distress can sometimes mean they have made their decision.
If you believe a teen at the Club is exhibiting these symptoms, please take it seriously. Don’t assume they’re exaggerating, ask them directly if they are thinking about hurting themself or anyone else, listen without judging or trying to solve the issue, and stay with them. Talking from experience, even if they say they don’t want help, call someone; they may never talk to you again, but at least they will be alive. I have had people call someone on me, and though I was mad in the beginning, I know that if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.
Suicide isn’t the only mental health struggle; signs of eating disorders can include skipping meals, strict food rules, obsession with weight or body image, dizziness, fatigue, along with withdrawal and irritability. Other mental health crises may show up as persistent sadness, anxiety, mood swings, loss of interest in activities, such as not showing up to the Club for long periods of time, and showing up one last time to say goodbye, isolation, risky behavior. All these signs are serious and should be addressed right away. If anyone you know is exhibiting these symptoms, please call 988 or report it immediately.
Mental Health Resources
NATIONAL – most important resources work in all 50 states
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988) – 24/7 crisis support anywhere in the U.S.
- SAMHSA National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (treatment referrals)
- Disaster Distress Helpline – 1-800-985-5990 (crisis tied to disasters)
- NAMI HelpLine – peer support + mental health info (1-800-950-6264)
RURAL RESOURCES (ALL STATES)
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988) – 24/7 crisis support anywhere in the U.S.
- 211 Helpline – connects you to local services (housing, counseling, food, crisis care)
NATIVE OR TRIBAL RESOURCES (ALL STATES)
- Indian Health Service (IHS) – mental health care for federally recognized tribes
https://www.ihs.gov - StrongHearts Native Helpline – 1-844-762-8483 24/7 confidential support (Native-specific crisis support) https://strongheartshelpline.org
- Native Crisis Text Line – text NATIVE to 741741. Free 24/7 texting with trained crisis counselors. Cultural support for indigenous communities
About the Author
With Support From
Learn more about all the incredible members of the inaugural National Youth Advisory Council at BGCA.org.
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