MENTAL HEALTH
    

Learn About NYEC's Mental Health Work

The National Youth Employment Coalition is deeply committed to improving the lives of opportunity youth by removing barriers to employment that impact their overall well-being. Our collection of materials is designed to empower practitioners with the knowledge and tools needed to address the unique mental health challenges that opportunity youth may face on their journey toward employment. Explore our comprehensive resources to gain insights, best practices, and evidence-based strategies that bridge the gap between mental health support and workforce development. We highly encourage individuals with valuable resources to share them with us, so we can continue to enrich the field and amplify the impact of our collective efforts.
NYEC 2024 Mental Health Policy Receommendations
NYEC Mental Health Report: Identifying Gaps in Youth Employment Programs' Capacity to Address Mental Health Needs - A National Survey

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NYEC Mental Health Workshops & Convening Materials

PowerPoint

Habitualizing Change: Supporting Young Adults in Developing a Practice of Self-Discovery, Awareness and Active Reflection

Created by the Trading and Upgrading Fund, this PowerPoint presentation is meant to teach how programs can support helping young people habitualize change. The presentation uses a unique social media activity as an example to help demonstrate how their method of habitualizing change can be applied. 
Webinar

Wellness, Self Care and Intersectionality in the Workplace

Examine how we can promote wellness, not as buzzwords, but as a workplace culture shift. Unlike other workshops that discuss wellness through an individual lens of self-care and boundary setting, Hopeworks will be discussed the ways our identities interact in group settings and how unconscious bias plays a role in our professional lives.

Presentation Slides

From Pink Slip to Paycheck! How to Help Youth Survive Layoffs and Get Back into Job Search

This presentation provides the reader with strategies to help youth overcome being laid off. From providing the dos and don’ts to helpful ways to engage with these youth, this presentation is meant to help develop the reader into a good support system for these youth. 
Webinar

Identifying and Addressing Youth's Mental Health Needs

This video presentation by Frank Kross, MSW, JD, of the Kros Learning Group. The focus of his discussion is addressing strategies to help youth identify and manage their mental health needs such as depression and anxiety. 
Presentation Slides

A Workforce Board Strategy: Advancing Mental Health Services Through Youth Employment System

Slides Here 

EmployIndy is the workforce development board for the Greater Indianapolis region. They have leveraged their influence and technical expertise to advance mental health services for opportunity youth, through their “Youth Employment System” network of service providers. 

Website

Job Accomadation Network (JAN): Tools & Resoureces

Through our forums and convenings, we connect our coalition with valuable tools and resources on youth mental health through our partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy and the Employment and Training Administration. Each year, NYEC features panels and workshops focused on youth mental health at our events. Explore the Job Accommodation Network Mental Health Hub for practical resources and guidance for workers.

Racial Equity and Mental Health

Webinar

University of Michigan Leading Equity and Diversity (LEAD): Empowering and Elevating Marginalized Voices

LEAD hosts a webinar to help address how college campuses can empower and elevate the voices of those who feel unheard and unseen.
Webinar

University of Michigan Leading Equity and Diversity (LEAD): “I Can’t Breathe”—A Call to Action for Leaders in Higher Education

Led by Debbie Willis. A discussion is brought upon what can be done to address the trauma the black community faces due to structural injustice and racism. The guest speakers talk about their journeys, answer questions relevant to the topic, and talk about work they are doing/have done regarding anti-racism and racial equity. 
Report

A Systematic Review of Interventions to Improve Initiation of Mental Health Care Among Racial-Ethnic Minority Groups

The objective of this systematic review was to identify interventions to improve the initiation of mental health care among racial-ethnic minority groups.
Article

How to Manage When Things Are Not Okay (And Haven’t Been For Centuries)

In this article, The Management Center shares ideas on how to support Black staff in the workspace when they are experiencing difficulties. 
List

PTTC Building Health Equity and Inclusion Webpage

This resource list was developed by the PTTC Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Practices Work Group, and represents a compilation of resources produced by the PTTC Network to help individuals understand the impact of culture and identity in prevention efforts. The list includes resources for multiple racial and gender groups, as well as adolescents and veterans. 
Report

Integrating Positive Youth Development and Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Approaches Across the Child Welfare and Justice Systems

This paper discusses ways to use positive youth development to address racial disparities amongst minority youth who have had contact with the juvenile justice and/or child welfare systems. 
Webinar

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Self-Care and Healing

This 3-part roundtable series focuses on what mental health looks like in the time of COVID-19. This specific video is about the self-care and healing of Asian American, Native Hawaiin, and Pacific Islanders and acknowledging its importance and even difficulty given cultural factors. The objective of the roundtable is to acknowledge these factors while also generating solutions and an understanding of self-care and healing’s importance.
Webinar

Black Psychiatrists of America Health Equity Series - Mental Health Topics, Part 6: Treatment of Mental Illness and Chronic Disease Comorbidity in the Black Community

This webinar led by the Black Psychiatrist of America discusses what are comorbidities and their relation to mental health, why they are so problematic in the African American community, and how we can improve the issue. 
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Youth, Mental Health and Employment

Report

2022 Identifying Gaps in Youth Employment Programs’ Capacity to Address Mental Health Needs- NYEC National Survey

NYEC's nationwide survey sought to understand the readiness of youth programs across the US to respond to the youth mental health pandemic; the processes and systems providers have in place to fight the crisis; and what supports they need to combat this ongoing, life-threatening challenge.
Report

2025 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People

The Trevor Project's National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health gives a deeper dive into the lived realities of LGBTQ+ young people including an increase in rates of suicidal thoughts, options for support, and where more needs to be done. 
Report

At A Glance State Statutes and Resolutions ACEs/Trauma-Informed Policy

This chart provides a quick overview of what different states have done to address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma-informed policies. 
Presentation

A. Margot Blair, Founder of DiscoverHer Presentation on Adverse Childhood Experiences

A. Margot Blair gives a presentation taking us along with her story (and the adversity she faced), informing us on the impact of adverse experiences as a child, and helping us figure out what advocacy looks like in our world. 
Quiz

Take the ACE Quiz

Take the ACE Quiz to find your score of adverse childhood experiences, what it means and how to manage it. 
Organization

Multiplying Connections

Multiplying Connections produces trauma-informed products and seeks to connect youth to caring adults.
US Senate Comittee Hearing

Protecting Youth Mental Health: Part I - An Advisory and Call to Action – United States Senate Committee on Finance

This source takes you to a recorded Finance Committee Hearing of the US Congress. Two senators made statements regarding the topic of protecting youth mental health. They both agreed that the mental health of youth is an important issue especially given the exacerbated effect the pandemic has had on such youth. 
Webinar

Mentoring Youth Impacted by Opioids

This webinar hosted by MENTOR will address considerations for mentoring programs serving youth and families impacted by opioid and substance misuse. 
Guide

Resource Guide to Trauma-Informed Human Services

This guide provides human services leaders at the local, State, Tribal, and Territorial levels with information and resources on recent advances in our understanding of trauma, toxic stress, and executive functioning. It especially highlights what these advances mean for program design and service delivery. The guide helps professionals learn about trauma-informed care and helps those currently engaged in trauma-informed work to improve their practice.
Organization

Sound Alarm for Kids

Sound Alarm seeks to raise awareness through stories of child and adolescent mental health that has been accelerated by the pandemic. 
Report

Improving Employment Outcomes of People With Psychiatric and Other Disabilities

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funded the Improving Employment Outcomes for People with Psychiatric Disorders and Other Disabilities Project to identify effective programs that help individuals with psychiatric disorders find and retain employment. A second goal of the project was to explore how these programs can be funded through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other sources. 
Report

Underserved Rural, Racial and Ethnic Communities

This policy report examines mental health disparities across rural, racial, and ethnic communities. It reflects extensive research and thoughtful collaboration by the Mental Health Matters National Task Force, a bipartisan group of policymakers and experts convened by the State Exchange on Employment and Disability in partnership with the National Conference of State Legislatures and The Council of State Governments.
Report

What Youth with Mental Health Needs Should Know

This fact sheet is meant to guide youth with mental health needs on how to navigate the workforce with their conditions. It informs youth on what a disability/mental health disability is, common concerns that might come with working with a disability, how to disclose it to your employer, and more useful tips and information on what they should know.
Guide

Work and Well Being: A Guide for People with Mental Health Conditions.

This guide is meant to support individuals with mental health conditions to find jobs that work for them. It starts by acknowledging the importance that employment has on those with mental health conditions. The guide goes on to inform you how to obtain and navigate employment, as well as advocate for yourself at work.
Network

Job Accommodation Network

A huge diverse resource that includes webinars, publications, information about the Americans with Disabilities Act, and disability accommodations. Anyone can contact JAN and talk to a staff person for specific help with accommodations.
Website

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration- SAMSHA.GOV

SAMHSA publishes free reports including several related to integrating vocational and mental health services, supported work, substance abuse, mental health, and employment.
Website

Training Resource Network

The Training Resource Network has a variety of publications including the book Recovery and Employment: A Guide to Employing People with Psychiatric Disabilities. They also offer web-based training on a wide variety of topics.
Guide

Mental Health America

Mental Health America gives advice on how to use meaningful work as a part of your road to recovery. They give information on different types of work, supported employment, work-related issues you may face, and much more.
Website

National Alliance on Mental Illness

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has a search page and this source is pre-linked to take you to a search full of sources involving employment and mental health.

 
Website

IPS Center

The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model has proven to be one of the most effective strategies to help people with mental health disabilities become employed. This site informs you on what IPS is, its principles, and its effect.
Articles

Society For Human Resources Management

Information and articles for employers about mental health can be found on this page produced by the Society for Human Resources Management.
Webinar

Self-Care And Intersectionality in the Workplace

You can’t properly help others without helping yourself. This presentation is meant to teach viewers how to understand personal identity and its effect on self-care in the workplace, support others while also taking care of yourselves, and teach you to make your own wellness plan. The presenters address how our identities aren’t one-dimensional and every part of us interacts with each other. 
Webinar

Identifying and Addressing Youth's Mental Health Needs - YouTube

This presentation teaches mental health mentors (non-licensed adults who help support youth through learning, teaching, connecting, and supporting) how to help young people experiencing depression and anxiety.

COVID-19 Pandemic and Mental Health

Webinar

A Hidden Pandemic: Native, and Tribal Young People Confront COVID-19

This NYEC workshop takes a deeper dive into the impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous and Tribal populations. The presenters demonstrate a unique edge as they all align with Native American tribes and were able to give insights based on personal experience. 
Report

COVID-19 Impact on Current and Former Foster Youth

This report takes a statistical dive into how COVID-19 had an impact on foster youth. Looking at the interactive charts and maps you can see how the pandemic impacted foster youth in regard to housing, money, education, and more.
Fact Sheet

COVID-19 Effect on Child Mental Health Fact Sheet

This two-page fact sheet describes the effect of COVID-19 on the mental health of children.
Report

Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES)

CDC released new data from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) highlighting the magnitude of the challenges our nation’s youth faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Webinar

COVID-19 Disparities Webinar: How to Support Racial & Ethnic Minority Students

This webinar, presented by Dr. Briana Woods-Jaeger, examined the various adversities experienced by racial and ethnic minority students as a result of the outbreak COVID-19. Additionally, this webinar highlighted how teachers and school staff can provide support to students disproportionately affected by incorporating cultural humility practices in a school/classroom setting.
Video

A White House Conversation on Mental Health

The U.S Surgeon General examines the youth mental health crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Article

How COVID-19 Affects Mental Health Disparities for Vulnerable Youth

Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color (BIYOC); youth involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems; and other traditionally underserved youth already are impacted at levels worse than their white or non-system involved peers, further hindering their ability to survive and thrive during the pandemic. The American Youth Policy Forum acknowledges this challenge and is addressing these disparities in this article. 
Resource List

Responding to COVID-19 Anxiety & Return to Work/School

Returning to school or work in this current phase of COVID is perhaps less isolating, but still a time of stress and anxiety. Below we highlight resources developed by our Network and other reputable national organizations for individuals returning back to work and school in person.

Hotlines and Helplines

Hotline

988 Hotline

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 
Hotline

Crisis Text Line Text “HELLO” to 741741

The Crisis Text hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the U.S. The Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, connecting them with a crisis counselor who can provide support and information. 
Database

FindTreatment.Gov

A database of state-licensed providers who specialize in treating substance use disorders, addiction, and mental illness. Find a treatment facility near you at www.findtreatment.gov

Hotline

Disaster Distress Hotline Call or text: 1-800-985-5990

SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters such as tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, incidents of mass violence, anniversaries, and trigger events, and more. Learn more at  https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline.

Database

Warmline Directory by State

Warmlines offer a place to call when you are not in a crisis but want or need to talk to someone. Warmlines are usually free, confidential, and run by people who understand what it’s like to struggle with mental health problems. If possible, it’s a good idea to call a warmline in your state or in another state nearby. If there’s no warmline in your state or if you feel uncomfortable calling a local line, many warmlines do accept calls from all over the country.
Report

SAMHSA Advisory: Peer Support Services in Crisis Care

This advisory discusses the role of peer support workers and models of peer support services that are available to assist individuals who are experiencing a crisis. Peer support services are a vital component of crisis care.
Hotline

The Trevor Project

Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678. A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. 
Website

Hotline

Dial 877-565-8860 for US and 877-330-6366 for Canada. Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support service run by transgender people, for transgender and questioning callers. 
Hotline/Chat

NAMI Hotline/Chat

Call 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264) for the NAMI HelpLine, a free, nationwide peer-support service providing information, resource referrals and support to people living with a mental health condition, their family members and caregivers, mental health providers, and the public. HelpLine staff and volunteers are experienced, well-trained, and able to provide guidance. 
Website

The Safe Space

The Safe Space is home to free resources and tools to provide extra support in an emotionally safe environment. The Safe Space is funded by SAMHSA and is run by Vibrant.org, the non-profit organization that also runs the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Resources for Helping Youth Cope after a Mass Shooting | Youth.gov The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs (IWGYP) has compiled a list of resources to help youth, families, educators, and community members cope with and talk about community trauma, as well as provide psychological first aid. 
Hotline

The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline

Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.