FAQ FOR PARENT/GUARDIAN: YOUTH AWARE OF MENTAL HEALTH
Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM) is a five-session evidenced-based program promoting increased knowledge and awareness of mental health in adolescents. Students build problem-solving skills and emotional intelligence through lectures, discussions, and role-plays.
YAM focuses on six main themes:
- What is Mental Health?
- Self-Help Advice
- Stress and Crisis
- Depression and Suicidal Thoughts
- Helping a Friend in Need
- Who Can I Ask for Advice?
When compared to other similar programs, YAM was proven to be more effective in improving adolescent mental health and is associated with significant reductions in suicide attempts and severe suicidal ideation.
Yam is
- Youth participation
- Discussions
- Booklet
- Posters
- Talk
- Role-plays
Why is my student’s school participating in this program?
Leadership believes that student mental well-being and resilience are fundamental to learning and would benefit from the knowledge provided by the YAM program.
Who is working with my student?
A certified YAM facilitator and helper will work with students. All facilitators:
- Have prior experience working with groups of youth as teachers, social workers, counselors, school psychologists, or youth workers.
- Are completely vetted and screened.
What is my role in YAM?
Ask your student what they are learning and talking about in YAM! You can also ask to see the YAM booklet they receive in class.
Contact Information
YAM is funded through the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium with statewide implementation support from the UT Southwestern Center for Depression Research and Clinical Care (Director, Madhukar Trivedi, MD).
For more information, please contact:
Campus Leadership
6 Main Themes of YAM
1. WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?
Students are provided with a definition of mental health associated with how a person
thinks, feels, and reacts. They are reassured that all people have stress and go through
difficult times. Participants are encouraged to find trusted friends and adults to
talk to when they experience difficulties.
2. SELF-HELP ADVICE
Feelings are explored and ways to feel better are identified. Suggested coping strategies
that are
discussed include the following:
- Acknowledging problems and associated feelings
- Cultivating positive friend relationships
- Practicing good self-care
- Avoiding alcohol, cigarettes, and/or drugs
3. STRESS AND CRISIS
Students define and describe physiological effects of stress and associated emotions.
Positive and negative effects of stress are explored. Crises are defined and some
examples are provided that affect individuals, groups, communities, and countries.
4. DEPRESSION AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS
The difference between depression and sadness is discussed. Common depression symptoms
are explained. Students who have experienced or know someone experiencing severe depressive
symptoms or suicidal thoughts are encouraged to seek help from a parent or other trusted
adult.
5. HELPING A FRIEND IN NEED
Students consider ways a friend may change when they need help with their mental health.
They explore how to help a friend by listening and discuss times when help from a
trusted adult may be necessary.
6. WHO CAN I ASK FOR ADVICE?
Students are encouraged to practice self-care and seek help for mental health issues
if needed. The mental health and wellness resource list in the YAM booklet is reviewed.
For More Information:
YAM Texas