Federal health agency embarks on country-wide initiative to address adolescent mental health issues and substance misuse.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a new campaign called Free Mind, aimed at addressing the critical connection between mental health and substance use among teenagers aged 12-17.
In a statement, Dr. Allison Arwady, director of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, highlighted that teens may turn to alcohol and other substances as a means to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. The drug overdose crisis, which the CDC describes as constantly evolving and an important public health issue, has claimed more than 80,000 American lives last year, according to CDC data.
One in five students have seriously considered attempting suicide, according to the CDC in 2023, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
The Free Mind campaign provides resources and strategies to address this issue, focusing on education, open communication, coping strategies, and parental support.
Educational materials highlight the link between substance use and mental health, risk factors contributing to drug use, and the consequences of using substances such as illegally made fentanyl, which has been involved in a significant share of overdose deaths among youth.
The campaign promotes honest communication between teens, parents, and caregivers about mental health and substance use, emphasizing early conversations before serious issues arise. It advocates for healthier ways to deal with emotional distress, discouraging substance use as a coping mechanism and encouraging teens to recognize it's okay to seek help.
Parents and caregivers are provided with tailored tools to help them recognize warning signs, understand current youth challenges related to substance use and mental health, and support teens effectively. The campaign also offers a campaign toolkit, including sample social media posts, graphics, and messaging scripts aimed at disseminating the campaign’s core messages widely and engaging communities.
The campaign was developed with input from youth themselves to ensure messaging resonates effectively and addresses real perceptions and challenges faced by teenagers. It is particularly timely given rising drug overdose deaths among youth (notably fentanyl-related) and increasing reports of poor mental health among high school students.
The Free Mind campaign supports youth, parents, and caregivers in having conversations early, before an issue arises. It is crucial to note that dealing with emotions might lead teens to turn to drugs, alcohol, or misuse of unprescribed medications.
Substance use can cause or worsen anxiety, sadness, anger, and depression. In 2023, 40% of high school students stopped regular activities due to persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Arwady emphasized that talking openly about mental health and substance use, and knowing when to get professional help, is critical to helping teens stay healthy.
The number of high school students reporting poor mental health has increased in the past decade. The Free Mind campaign aims to provide resources and information about substance use, mental health, and their connection. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the national lifeline at 988.
[1] CDC (2023). Free Mind Campaign. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/freemind/
[2] Arwady, A. (2023). Addressing the Connection Between Mental Health and Substance Use Among Teens. [online] CDC Blog. Available at: https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2023/08/addressing-the-connection-between-mental-health-and-substance-use-among-teens/
[3] CDC (2023). Drug Overdose Deaths Among Teens. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/teens.html
[4] CDC (2023). Illegally Made Fentanyl. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/illegalmarijuana/illegally-made-fentanyl.html
[5] CDC (2023). Resources for Parents and Caregivers. [online] Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/freemind/parents-caregivers.html
- The Free Mind campaign offers educational resources on health-and-wellness, focusing on mental-health, highlighting the link between substance use and mental health and emphasizing that substance use can cause or worsen anxiety, sadness, anger, and depression.
- To tackle the rising drug overdose deaths among youth, particularly fentanyl-related, the Free Mind campaign encourages honest communication between teens, parents, and caregivers about mental health and substance use, promoting healthier ways to deal with emotional distress and discouraging substance use as a coping mechanism.
- Recognizing the importance of dealing with emotions to prevent teenagers from turning to drugs, alcohol, or misuse of unprescribed medications, the Free Mind campaign provides tailored tools for parents and caregivers, including sample social media posts, graphics, and messaging scripts. Additionally, the campaign offers a national lifeline (988) available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for free, confidential help for those experiencing mental health crisis.
