Youth and Young Adult Resources

Created by NAMI Washington, Meet Little Monster is a mental health coloring and activity book that provides children with a tool for helping express and explore their feelings in a fun, creative and empowering way. Available for download at no-cost in multiple languages.

Created in partnership with The JED Foundation, the College Guide is a one stop online resource to help young adults navigate the many situations encountered when in this new and exciting environment

A one-pager that gives suggestions on how to support a friend struggling with a mental health condition

A one-pager that helps individuals understand the importance of words when talking about mental health conditions and suicide

A one-pager that makes taking the first steps to asking for help less overwhelming

A video on where and how you can find the help and support you need for a mental health condition.

A video on who to reach out to and ways to put your thoughts and feelings into words to receive help for a mental health condition.

Do you have a mental health toolkit? In this video, NAMI volunteer Britt shares what positive coping skills are and how to develop a mental health toolkit so that we don't fall into negative coping strategies. Additionally, she discusses what specific skills help her cope.

In this video, learn how to prepare for a mental health emergency, including how to safely share medical information with someone you trust.

A set of social media graphics to start a conversation with your community about mental health check-ins, mental health game plans and our four-day gratitude challenge. Download the graphics here.

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NAMI Ending the Silence is an engaging presentation that helps middle and high school aged youth learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if you or a loved one are showing symptoms of a mental health condition.

NAMI Ending the Silence is offered in-person by NAMI affiliates across the country and is also now available online when an in-person presentation is not available.

School Mental Health Resource Poster
School Mental Health Resource Poster (black and white)Teachers can help students access vital mental health resources easily and confidentially with this convenient poster. Students can tear away important mental health resource information or scan the QR code to save contacts directly into their phones. NAMI recommends pre-cutting the tear aways at the bottom and tearing off the first one to relieve the pressure of any student being the first to take one. Also available in black and white.

Supporting Back to School Wellness
A one-pager with a few tips for teachers on how to make students’ transition back to the classroom a little bit easier during these uncertain times.

A one-pager that helps individuals understand the importance of words when talking about mental health conditions and suicide.

A one-pager with tips for educators on supporting their student's emotional and mental well-being during the transition back to school and throughout the school year!

An activity guide for educators to incorporate daily wellness activities in the classroom to enhance the emotional well-being of their students.

An activity guide to help students develop an understanding of mental health and identify supports available for them inside the classroom and at school.

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NAMI Basics is a six-session education program for parents, caregivers and other family who provide care for youth (ages 22 and younger) who are experiencing mental health symptoms. This program is free to participants, 99% of whom say they would recommend the program to others. NAMI Basics is available both in person and online through NAMI Basics OnDemand.

A video that describes what to do and where to go for help when your child shows symptom of a mental health condition

A one-pager that helps individuals understand the importance of words when talking about mental health conditions and suicide.

A nationwide iHeartRadio special, hosted by Ryan Gorman that includes Barbara Solish, director of youth and young adult initiatives at NAMI, discussing resources and help available for children, teens and young adults faced with the hardship of the pandemic and remote learning. The NAMI segment starts at minute marker 14:47.

A one-pager with tips for parents on supporting their children's emotional and mental well-being during the challenging transition back to the classroom and throughout the school year!

An activity guide for parents and guardians to discuss mental health and well-being with their children in the home and develop supportive practical strategies.

An activity guide for parents and caregivers to incorporate daily wellness activities at home to enhance the emotional well-being of their children.

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A one-pager with data on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth and young adult.

A poll conducted by Ipsos on behalf of NAMI finds that most teens are comfortable talking about mental health, but often don’t start the conversation. They also want schools to play a big role in their mental health, and they trust the information they get there, but feel like schools are not doing enough.

A poll conducted by Ipsos on behalf of NAMI finds that an overwhelming number of parents support mental health education in schools and “mental health days” for their children.

CDC’s first nationally representative survey of high school students during the pandemic can inform effective programs.

A guide that provides interventions to treat for suicidal ideation, self-harm and suicide attempts among youth. It provides research on implementation and examples of the ways that these recommendations can be implemented.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2009–2019 provides the most recent surveillance data on health behaviors and experiences among high school students in the US related to four priority areas associated with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, and unintended teen pregnancy: sexual behavior, high-risk substance use, experiencing violence, and mental health and suicide. 

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College Mental Health Blogs

Teen Mental Health Blogs

What is PTSD?
Learn what PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) is, its causes, symptoms and treatment options.

#Notalone Conversation: Heading Back to School
Sherman Gillums joins Ananya Venkatachalam (student), Shobhana Radhakrishnan (mom), and Jamie Meisinger (teacher) to discuss heading back to school after a year of at-home learning. This conversation opens the dialogue to realize the mental health challenges and opportunities for students, teachers and parents.