Since North Carolina Ys launched grant-funded work to support teen mental health last March, the approach has varied across the state with some Ys launching teen programs for the first time and others expanding opportunities for teens. Our Ys meet regularly to share best practices, challenges and wins.

We are sharing a few highlights of the impactful work happening around our state to nurture resilience, strengthen social emotional learning (SEL) capacity and support mental health.

• 402 YMCA staff have been trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid, and Y staff have made 144 referrals to mental health experts for teens they believe need additional support. 
   
• Alamance County Community YMCA hired a teen director and is launching its Leaders Club in collaboration with new partner Cyclebreakers4Life (CBL). The Y also has continued its partnership with Y Empower, a local counseling service that provides resources, such as positive communication and character development education, to the Y’s middle schoolers.
   
• The Foundation YMCA of Wilson staff participate in the Communicating with Confidence Initiative led by the Wilson Education Partnership to prepare all 11th grade students in the community for job interviews; the Y also shares mental health resources with the students as they help prepare them for college and the workforce.
   
• YMCA of Northwest North Carolina is hosting its first Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) course this week. For teens 14-18 or grades 9-12, the course teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers. YMCA of Western NC has offered the course, and YMCA of South Hampton Roads is working to train enough staff in Youth Mental Health First Aid to qualify for offering the teen course.
   
• The YMCA of High Point has restarted a leadership program initially offered last summer for teens at one of its branches; teens meet each Saturday in person and virtually for a 6-8 week period.
   
• The YMCA of Greensboro’s Teen Mental Health Advisory Council, comprised of teens who had not previously been involved in any Y programs before joining the council, conducted assessments to evaluate how well their schools are equipped to meet students’ needs. The teens assessed their peers as well as school staff, and proposed some action items to address challenges identified.
   
• YMCA of Southeastern NC, through its partnership with Coastal Horizons, is educating teens in Leaders Clubs about find and staying within their resilience zone, which helps them self-regulate in stressful times.

  January 14, 2025