Prevention & Wellness Resources

What is anxiety?
Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It is a feeling of fear or apprehension about what is to come. The first day of school, going to a job interview, or giving a speech may cause most people to feel fearful and nervous.

What is depression?
Depression is a mental health problem that expresses feelings of sadness, worthlessness, or hopelessness and loss of interest. In teens, it can affect the way they think, problem solve and interact. Peer pressure, school work and changes in body are among some symptoms of depression

Anxiety in the Classroom

Understanding Depression for Parents

Kid Chat & Anonymous Alert

Student Safety

How to help your child

What is Dating Violence?
Dating violence is a pattern of controlling behaviors that one partner uses against another in order to gain power in the relationship. The abuser can behave in ways that cause fear, isolation, shame and/or humiliation. Dating violence can be physical, mental, emotional or a combination of all three.

Resources:
Montgomery County Women’s Center
Teen Dating Violence
Youth Topics
Is This Abuse?
RAINN – National Sexual Assault Hotline

What can you do to support someone who is in an abusive relationship?
Learn about the problem. The best way to overcome any discomfort you feel about dating violence is by learning about it. Understanding how your friend or family member is struggling can help you see the world from his or her eyes.

• Tell them you are concerned. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a friend or family member who needs help.
• Seek professional help. Help them connect to resources in the community that can offer information and guidance.
• Don’t contact the abuser or post negative things about them. Focus on your friend or family member. Being supportive and caring is the priority.

How to help your student dealing with:
Bouncing back from set backspdf
Celebratepdf
Changepdf
Conflict Resolutionpdf
Emotionspdf
How to use past success to confront current challengespdf
Humorpdf
Learning to be flexiblepdf
Motivationpdf
Negative thoughtspdf

What is substance use disorder?
Substance use disorders can occur when the recurrent use of alcohol and/or drugs cause functionally significant impairment, such as health problems, disability, and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school, or home. Substance use disorders can range from mild to moderate to severe. Under age substance use can be an indicator of and/or lead to a substance use disorder and should always be taken seriously.

Resources:
National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Get Smart About Drugs
Become a Smoke Free Teen

What can you do to support someone who is engaging in substance use?

• Deal with your own feelings. You may feel shocked, confused, or even have your own struggles come up when dealing with substance use behaviors. Acknowledging your feelings is an important first step toward helping your loved one.
• Learn about the problem. The best way to overcome any discomfort you feel about substance use is by learning about it. Understanding how your family member is struggling can help you see the world from his or her eyes.
• Seek professional help. An assessment can help you and your loved one determine the severity of the problem as well as what treatment methods could be the most effective.
• Do not be afraid to seek family services. Substance use can be confusing and straining for the individual and the whole family. It is okay and even beneficial to your loved one to seek help in dealing with these issues as a family.

HOW TO HELP
Your loved one is saying they want to hurt or kill themselves, take them seriously, and get them
help immediately.
Listen with empathy and give them hope.
Show them support. The emotional roller-coaster your loved one is experiencing could stem
from a fight, breakup, disappointment, or anything else. Do not disregard their feelings!

Warning signs:
Talking about wanting to die or kill themselves
Looking for a way to kill themselves
Talking about feeling hopeless
Expressing no reason to live
Talking about being a burden to others
Giving away prize or personal possessions
Increased use of alcohol or drugs
Behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or isolating from previously enjoyed activities
Loss of relationship
Extreme mood swings
Previous suicidal attempts
Family history of suicide

Resources:
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Crisis Text Line
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Local After School Hours Help
MY3 
National Alliance on Mental Health Illness-Self Harm
National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health-Suicide Prevention
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The Trevor Project

Mental Health Resources:
10 Tools to Feel Stronger
31 Ways to Improve Wellnesspdf
Seize the Awkward
TWLOHA 


Wellness Apps:
Aura
Breathe2Relax
Calm
Calmcast
Colorfy
Draw with Stars
Headspace
iWish
Mandalas
Mindshift
MoodTools
Stop. Breath. Think.
Smiling Mind
Virtual Hope Box

Free printable coloring and activity book ages 8-12:
National Institute of Mental Health

National Eating Disorder Association