March is the host for a number of national days that should be recognized. One of the many and the one I want to focus on is World Teen Mental Wellness Day. This day was first introduced in 2020 and has since been celebrated every year on March 2nd. Now I know that March 2nd has already passed, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring attention to teen’s mental health and promote wellness any time of the year. Over the last few years, rates of mental illness in teens have been rising at rapid rates. According to the World Health Organization, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experience a mental disorder. That 14% of this population. Mental disorders can include emotional disorders, behaviors disorders, eating disorders, and a number of other things. The World Health Organization also states that “depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.” Additionally, they state that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among individuals ages 15-19. In order to quell these growing numbers and to keep these disorders from impacting the teens for the rest of their lives, it is vital that we address the importance of mental health and look at ways to promote wellness. One of these ways is to recognize and celebrate World Teen Mental Wellness Day.
World Teen Mental Wellness Day was first organized in 2020 by Hollister as part of their confidence project. According to the Hollister website World Teen Mental Wellness Day was founded to act “as an annual reminder to take time to make time for yourself. Recharge, feel your feelings & replenish your own resources, so you have more to give to yourself, others & the world.” In addition to organizing a whole day centered around teen mental health and wellness, this project also proposed a number of other things. According to their website, with the funds they receive for this project, Hollister focuses on mental health awareness, equitable opportunity for BIPOC, safety and inclusion for LGBTQIA+ youth, anti-bullying efforts, and environmental action. The goal of this project is to make youth feel their most “confident, comfortable and capable.”
In addition to recognizing World Teen Mental Wellness Day here are some other things that promote wellness and good mental health in teens:
• Promote self-care. Self-care allows you time to do the things you love and to take time for yourself. Taking care of yourself is vital in terms of improving mental health.
• Talk to them regularly- discuss the importance of mental health, what may be causing poor mental health, and other issues they may be facing. Reach out to them if you know they are struggling.
• De-stigmatize mental health- post on social media and talk about it often. This helps to take away the stigma surrounding mental health.
• Promote healthy habits- stress the importance of getting enough sleep and building healthy habits.
These are just a few ways that you can help to promote wellness in teens! There are so many ways to help. My suggestion, find out how they want you to help them. Ask them what they need and go from there!
For more information regarding the confidence project visit
https://www.hollisterco.com/shop/us/br/about