Are you a parent, educator, business leader or health professional that wants to help?

Here are steps you can take to help further this mission:

Educate Your Representatives

1. Promote and support local, state and federal policies and programs that address the early identification of mental illness and suicide prevention in adolescents.
2. Contact your representatives and senators to get the word out about teen mental health issues and the value of screening in identifying these conditions early.
3. Stay up-to-date on important mental health policy issues and efforts.
4. Download our fact sheets and other materials and distribute them to other individuals in your community to broaden awareness.

Mobilize Your Community

Educating your friends and neighbors on the serious problem of youth mental illness and the importance of early intervention and prevention is key to mobilizing your community and building support and collaboration.  You can play an important role in engaging with others on how mental health screenings can help families address these issues:

• 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 screenings work and the value of early intervention and prevention programs. Learn more.
• Build support for a local mental health screening 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 our Schools & Communities Program here.