Adolescent Mental Health

NACCHO has a long history of providing support to Local Health Departments (LHDs) to address the health needs of young people. Numerous projects within NACCHO support the work of LHDs in addressing adolescent mortality and morbidity, specifically in the areas of injury prevention, mental and reproductive health, HIV and STD prevention, tobacco prevention, and obesity prevention.

The Adolescent Health program's goals are to build NACCHO's capacity to address adolescent health needs and enhance LHDs ability to identify and address adolescents needs in their communities.

December Feature Topic: Adolescent Mental Health
Mental health issues are strongly associated with many adolescent physical health problems that the public health community has deemed critical (teen pregnancy, obesity, violence, suicide, substance abuse, bullying). While addressing adolescent mental health has not always been considered traditional public health, a growing national conversation is underway on the importance of taking a public health approach to mental health issues and local health departments across the country are getting involved.

Local Health Department Program Spotlight:
Teen Health Fund (THF)

Teen Health Fund was established to assist five local communities in the county to plan, implement and evaluate youth-led, adult-guided activities that address depression awareness, suicide prevention, and healthy youth development.

Each THF community has a coordinator and a fiscal agent. Technical assistance is provided by PHE. THF community members include youth, school staff, mental health providers, faith based groups, youth serving organizations, and interested others.

Activity Highlights:

• Depression Screenings;
• Peer Leader Opportunities;
• School Staff Training; and
• Community Training and Resource Development.

More »

Adolescent Mental Health News and Resources

»NEWS

• Mental Health America to Congress: Override Presidential Veto of FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill
• Senate Passes "Mental Health Parity"
• Suicide Trends Among Youths and Young Adults Aged 10--24 Years
• New National Survey Reveals Drug Use Down Among Adolescents
• U.S.—Successes in Substance Abuse Recovery Highlighted
• Suicide rates for 10-19 year-old females and 15-19 year-old males increased significantly in 2004
• Poll: Family Ties Key to Youth Happiness
• Treating the Awkward Years

»RESOURCES

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Fact Sheet
• SAMHSA's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Web Health Information Center
• NIMH Child and Adolescent Mental Health Web site
• Bright Futures in Practice: Mental Health—Volume II, Tool Kit
• America's Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2007
• Updated Fact Sheet on Substance Use among Adolescents and Young
• HRSA Stop Bullying Now! Campaign materials
• CDC Feature:  School Violence: Tips for coping with stress
• AAP: Issues Surrounding Adolescent HIV/STD Prevention Counseling and Testing

NACCHO Adolescent Health Activities

• The Plain Talk Approach to Teen Pregnancy and Teen HIV/STD Prevention: The Role of Local Health Departments

Through support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, NACCHO is conducting activities designed to raise the awareness of local health departments about Plain Talk/Hablando Claro, an evidence-based Teen Pregnancy and HIV/STD Prevention program developed by the foundation.  More »

• Partners in Program Planning for Adolescent Health (PIPPAH)

Through a cooperative agreement with the Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau's Office of Adolescent Health, NACCHO is participating in activities to build its capacity to address adolescent health issues.  More »

Adolescent Health Activities in Local Health Departments

• Adolescent Health Related Model and Promising Practices

Reproductive Health
Guys Only After School Program
Power On: Parent/Child Human Sexuality Programs
Project A.S.K. (Adolescents Seeking Knowledge)
Shoulder to Shoulder
Teen Choices
Teen Pregnancy Project/Sexual Violence Action Team

Nutrition and Physical Activity
Junior Traks

Violence Prevention
Breaking the Cycle
Second Step: A Violence Prevention Initiative

Positive Youth Development
Teen Videofest