Mental Health Support for Young People

Advice from the Hey Sam Team

Young adulthood is a time of big transition, and we know that young people are facing a growing mental health crisis. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for young people 15-24 years old. In 2024, one in 3 teenage girls seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, and more than 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ students attempted suicide. Suicide attempts among Black teens have increased a staggering 73% over the last 25 years, and 2022, 22% of Hispanic/Latino high school students seriously considered suicide.

So what can you do if you know a young person who is struggling with mental health?

Members of Samaritans’ Hey Sam peer-to-peer support textline — designed for and staffed by people up to 24 years old — have learned a lot about what it takes to support young adults in crisis. Here, we share some key principles that parents and other caring adults can apply in conversations with young people. We also highly recommend referring youth directly to the Hey Sam textline, which they can reach by calling or texting 439-726.

Learn How to “Befriend” Your Teen

Community and connection are core to mental health — that’s why Samaritans’ proven befriending model is so powerful. Befriending is a compassionate and empathetic approach to providing emotional support. It’s like being a trusted friend who is there to listen without judgment, offer understanding, and allow the other person to openly express themselves.

Befriending includes three key ingredients:

Validation: Acknowledging and accepting feelings and experiences rather than questioning or minimizing them
Reflection: Showing that we understand what someone is saying and that we are listening intently
Open-ended questions: Inviting someone to reflect and/or elaborate on what they’ve been sharing in a way that gets to the core of the pain they’re texting in about

If a young person in your life has opened up to you personally about mental health struggles or suicidal thoughts, it is important to be an active and attentive listener in the moment.

Using validating statements, like the following, can help your teen feel heard:

“It sounds like you are going through a lot right now.”
“I’m so glad we’re talking about this.”
“It takes a lot of courage to talk about this — I’m here to listen.”
“It’s okay to feel that way.”
“This isn’t something you should have to go through alone.”

Reflecting back the particular details your teen has shared shows you were really listening, not just offering a generic response. You can mirror the exact words or phrases they use, or paraphrase:

“I’m hearing that you have a lot going on and no one really gets it.”
“It sounds like it’s just been a lot lately.”
“It’s so hard to feel like nothing you do is ever good enough.”
“It sounds like this has been building for a long time.”

Try asking open-ended questions, such as:

“What are these emotions like for you?”
“What brought these feelings on?”
“What do you normally do when you feel like this?”
“How can I help you right now?”
“What is it like for you to talk about this?”

More Tips for Parents

Encourage your child to identify trusted adults they can speak with if they’re ever in a crisis or just need to talk. Try not to take it personally if they won’t speak to you or don’t seem comfortable. Encourage them to turn to those other adults.
Think about your own views of suicide. Young people pick up on everything. If you have a negative view of mental illness or help seeking, they may too.
Model healthy coping skills and self care!
Speak in the car. There’s nowhere to go and you don’t have to look at each other face-to face, which can take some pressure off.
Watch videos or movies together to encourage conversation.
Use stories in the media and news as a starting point for discussion.

Find more mental health resources for youth of various backgrounds, experiences, and identities on our website.