Mental Health Awareness and Resources
BECAUSE BIG FEELINGS
HAVE NO OFF SEASON
BY VERONICA VEHEMENTE
Throughout the year, there are various mental health months and days to raise awareness and reduce stigmas, but emotional wellness transcends seasons or calendars. While awareness is imperative, it's just the beginning. The key is year-round mental health resources that are available to tweens, teens, and the adults who support them. Mood provides free, easy-to-use tools that are available day or night, all year long.
For students, parents, and educators, the biggest mental health challenges continue showing up after the awareness campaigns wind down, like summer transitions, including social shifts, longer days travelling, holidays, returning to school, or even after long weekends, quiet and lonely hours.
With the right tools, awareness, and support, we can help our kids all year long.
Mood provides free, easy-to-use mental health resources for tweens, teens, and the adults who support them. While awareness is a great place to start, ongoing access to mental health tools is what truly makes a difference.
What the Data Shows: The State of Youth Mental Health in Summer 2025
THE NEWS IS CLEAR: YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH REMAINS IN CRISIS
The news is clear: youth mental health remains in crisis.
1 in 5 teens reports symptoms of anxiety or depression
Post-COVID effects continue to show up in increased stress, social withdrawal, and academic disengagement
Marginalized communities, especially LGBTQ+ youth and BIPOC teens, face greater barriers to mental health care
This isn’t just a moment. It’s a movement, and one that needs tools, trust, and mental health resources to sustain real change.
3 Ways to Support Teen Mental Health Through Summer and Beyond
1. NORMALIZE EMOTIONAL CHECK-INS
Open a dialogue about how your child is feeling. Steer clear of open-ended questions like “how are you feeling.” Be specific. For example, “What's one thing that made you happy today? What's one thing that bummed you out? What was the hardest thing you had to do today? How did that make you feel?”
2. SHARE FREE MENTAL HEALTH TOOLS LIKE MOOD
There are some excellent tools available, but it can be hard to find them when navigating all the websites and apps out there. The Mood Tools App and Mood Classroom are easy, accessible ways to provide mental health support for teens. Share them with your friends, your school, your colleagues, or in a group chat. You never know who needs it.
3. CREATE A JUDGMENT AND FIX-IT FREE ZONE
As parents, it’s so easy to be judgy, thinking we know what's best and what will make our kids feel better, without taking the time to listen. Before making assumptions or jumping to find a quick fix, first take time to just listen and validate. This means parroting back to your kid how they are feeling and saying you understand. Once they have finished talking, you might ask, “Would you like my help?” If they say “yes,” fix away! If not, give them time and space.
How Mood Is Helping Normalize Mental Health Conversations
At Mood, we’re about raising awareness then offering proactive tools in response.
Mood offers practical, emotion-regulating tools to navigate teen anxiety, stress, frustration, and more. The tools are science-backed, age-appropriate, and built with the support of therapists, educators, and teens.
Whether a student is struggling after a social interaction, a parent is unsure how to help, or a teacher wants to create a calmer classroom, Mood provides mental health support in real time.
