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YouthLine

YouthLine is a free and confidential 24-hour teen-to-teen crisis, counseling, and referral line for youth.

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Life can be overwhelming. Family, friends, school, and jobs can take a toll on our mental and physical health. Taking care of yourself isn’t easy—we know because that’s something we talk about with young people every day on the YouthLine. We’re here to help you take care of yourself and get through today.

Don’t let feelings of stress, overwhelm, or depression loom over you until they become too much. Instead, here are some tips to help make sure you’re taking care of your body, mind, and social life:

I'm feeling: tired, no energy, crummy, hungry, lazy When you're not taking care of your body, nothing else feels right, so this is a great place to start when you feel like there's too much going on to handle. Here's what I will do to take care of my body when I feel like my back is against a wall:
  • Eat a tasty snack
  • Drink a big glass of water
  • Exercise (walk, run, bike ride, stretch, do push-ups, play Wii)
  • Get up, take a shower/bubble bath, and get dressed
  • Turn on some music and dance
  • Take 10 deep breaths
  • Go to bed early or take a nap
I'm feeling: panic, sadness, hopelessness, negativity, frustration, anger When you're really stressed, it's important to relax your mind, and it's really hard to do in the heat of the moment.  Here's what I will do to take care of my mind when my life feels out of control:
  • Listen to music or work on a song I'm writing
  • Watch a movie
  • Do something artistic like draw, paint, dance or sing
  • Look in the mirror and tell myself, "I'm a rock star"
  • Write in a journal
  • Read a book
  • Lose the caffeine
  • Take a personal timeout
I'm feeling: isolated, lonely, disconnected, left out, being a loner, anti-social We all feel better when we're around other people. That's why the last step in your plan should be to connect with others or reach out for more help. There's no reason to try to deal with it alone. Here's what I will do to take care of myself socially when I'm feeling alone:
  • Call a friend or trusted family member
  • Start a blog or a vlog
  • Find out what clubs my school has that I'd like to join
  • Play with my pet or take my neighbor's dog for a walk
  • Fill idle time by volunteering for something I care about
  • Connect with friends on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr
  • When in doubt, get out and people watch! (Go to mall, bookstore, community center, etc.)

Other Resources

13 Reasons Why – Resource Library
A list of helpful guides to difficult discussions and topics surrounding the Netflix series.

Mind Your Mind
Created by and for young people to learn about depression, anxiety, stress and common life issues

ReachOut USA
Peer support and mental health information in a safe and supportive online space

Love Is Respect
Learn about relationships through quizzes, online help and advice

Man Therapy
A fun and awesome way to learn about your mental health and wellness

The Trevor Project
LGBTQ specific help for suicide prevention and support for frequently asked questions

We R Native
Learn about mental and physical wellness for Native youth, by Native youth

Planned Parenthood Info for Teens
Quizzes, articles and information about your body and sexual health
Looking for our brochures, business cards, posters, and more? Visit our Materials Page