The TeenScreen National Center continues efforts to advance policy, institute best practices and expand the availability of mental health checkups as part of its core strategy to prevent adolescent suicide and reduce disability associated with mental illness. But, there are steps you can take to help further this mission:
Educate Lawmakers
- Promote and support local, state and federal policies and programs that address the early identification of mental illness and suicide prevention in adolescents.
- Contact your local representatives and/ or senators to get the word out about these important issues and the value of screening as an evidence-based practice to identify these conditions early.
- Stay up-to-date on important policy issues and efforts.
- Disseminate information to individuals in the community regarding TeenScreen and other national activities that support these initiatives.
Mobilize Your Community
Educating the public on the serious problem of youth mental illness and suicide and the importance of early intervention and prevention to address these issues is key to mobilizing your community and building support and collaboration. You can play an important role in engaging your community and sharing with others how mental health checkups can help families address these important issues. There are many ways in which you can advocate for mental health screening in your community:
- Raise awareness in your community about the serious problem of unidentified mental illness and suicide in youth. Visit our State Resource Center for information on youth mental illness and suicide in your state; become familiar with local statistics and how these issues affect people in your community.
- Educate your community on how mental health checkups work and the value of early intervention and prevention programs. Learn more.
- Build support for developing a local mental health checkup initiative by developing or joining a local suicide prevention coalition, task force, or workgroup that includes individuals that have the authority to help facilitate local screening efforts. Community partnerships and support are critical to the success of local screening efforts. Examples of individuals you may consider including and involving in your plans are:
- Medical and health care professionals
- School officials, faculty, support staff
- Mental health professionals
- PTA/ PTO members or other parent groups
- Administrators from hospitals and mental health agencies
- Tribes and tribal leadership
- Faith-based organizations
- Local colleges and universities
- Youth representatives
- Start a screening program in your community – learn more about the National Center’s Programs.
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