Published May 2025
By: Leslie M. Booren
Highlights:
- May is Mental Health Awareness month!
- Researchers at Youth-Nex are continuing to contribute to a growing body of work on the mental health and wellness by exploring innovative strategies to foster resilience, connectedness, and positive youth development.
- In this post, we have rounded up all the news stories, blog posts and research articles published in the last year, each advancing our understanding of mental health and wellness.
Digital Technology & Youth Mental Health
- Helping Youth Thrive in a Digital World
Dr. Nancy Deutsch discusses how digital technologies, including AI tools and wearable tech, can both support and challenge youth mental health. She also previews a national conference's focus on understanding the role of digital technology in positive youth development.
- #YouthDigitalFutures Conference
The 9th Youth-Nex conference, co-sponsored by Thriving Youth in a Digital Environment (TYDE), addressed the intersection of technology and youth development, with discussions on social media, mental health equity, and public policy. Highlights included downloadable resources and videos, youth-led panels, and a facilitated discussion with Drs. Candice Odgers and Jonathan Haidt.
School Mental Health
- School Mental Health Research Briefs
These research in brief blogs are part of the School Mental Health series highlighting work and resources for mental health professionals. These briefs originate from the Virginia Partnership for School Mental Health (VPSMH) project and highlight a variety of research findings, practitioner tips and more for school mental health professionals.
- Supporting School Staff after Students’ Mental Health Crisis
Youth-Nex researchers and colleagues identify training needs for school mental health professionals that are supporting students returning to school after a psychiatric hospitalization. Three themes and implications for future trainings are shared for schools and practitioners.
Teaching Wellness & Mental Health
- Teaching Mindfulness Practices
The Compassionate Schools Project (CSP) is helping teachers and schools promote health and wellness skills in school children. CSP integrates mindfulness and movement into social-emotional learning, improving student well-being and behavior.
- Teacher Mental Health Literacy
Teachers play a critical role in supporting youths' mental health. Dr. Candra Skrzypek publishes a scale that measure teachers' understanding of how to promote well-being, recognize potential problems, connect students in need to appropriate resources, and link well-being and school success.
Podcasts Relating to Mental Health
- Health from the Portrait of a Thriving Youth
This Lessons in Adolescence podcast episode features the Portrait of a Thriving Youth framework, which includes physical and mental health. These stakeholders share how to support youth development and mental health by emphasizing skills, competencies, and community connections.
- School Transitions after Mental Health Hospital Visit
After students visit the hospital for care during a mental health crisis, they often jump right back into school. Dr. Lora Henderson Smith shares with the EdLab podcast how she is working with schools to help make those transitions smoother.
Youth Voices on Mental Health
- Youth Voices on Thriving in a Digital World
Dr. Stef Sequeira, co-chair of the 9th Youth-Nex conference, introduces the Youth Digital Futures blog series lead by teen and youth authors! She emphasizes how youth are often times experts in technology and what may work to support their mental health.
- Youth Researchers of Mental Health Issues
Irène Mathieu, MD, leads the Wellness And Youth Social action (WAYS) Lab that is using youth voices to find ways to help teens during the mental health public health crisis. Youth are researchers and uplift their voices to address mental health issues (see pg. 13).
Other Facets of Mental Health
- Anxiety & Emotions in Adolescence
Dr. Faith Zabek discusses the emotional complexities of adolescence, inspired by the film Inside Out 2. She highlights how adults can support teens in navigating their evolving emotions, including anxiety, during this critical developmental stage.
- Youth Suicidal Thoughts & Behaviors
Youth-Nex researchers and colleagues examine crossover impacts of Coping Power, school-based preventative intervention targeting externalizing problems. Findings highlight the promise of digital health and mindfulness-based interventions for youth with externalizing problems in reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
- Perfectionism & Well-Being in Young Black Women
Dr. Seanna Leath and colleagues examine the pressure to be perfect among Black college women attending predominantly White institutions. Results suggest that Black women's perfectionist tendencies are a byproduct of trying to achieve educational and occupational success, and highlight the ways young Black women learn to cope with socially prescribed messages and stereotypes.