Healthy Habits: Good News About Youth Mental Health

 Youth mental health is in crisis. More than 7 million kids in the U.S. are struggling with a mental health challenge.  But there is good news, too.

• Kids are helping kids: EQuip Our Kids!, a nonprofit working to bring social emotional (SEL) learning to all kids, has launched a youth initiative to help kids build skills to help buffer mental health risks.
• Parents and businesses are learning how to help: EQuip Our Kids! speaker bureau is offering free webinars to help parents and businesses join the EQ movement. 

Research backs up the power of social emotional learning (SEL):  

• Universal SEL enhances EQ skills and reduces depression and anxiety symptoms short term.
• SEL ups academic performance by 11%; helps boost academic recovery post- pandemic.

More good news:

• SEL helps entire communities, not just schools.
• At least 20 national organizations are championing SEL, offering research-based information and fighting misinformation.
• Important conversations are continuing: PBS and Ken Burns released a powerful and hopeful documentary on youth mental health.
• President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden supported SEL Day 2022, affirming the need for SEL.

 
Social emotional learning is critical to helping kids build the skills they need. Organizations like EQuip Our Kids! – with the help of leading voices like Sandy Hook Mom Scarlett Lewis and others – are directly combating the crisis and working to ensure that good news can continue.

For more information, visit https://equipourkids.org.