Inside the Teen-Run Hotline Meeting America's Mental Health Crisis

Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANi) offers free programs that provide mental health first aid and suicide intervention. MANi provides virtual counseling facilitated by trained, volunteer professionals as well as in-person offerings like conversation cafes and other group talks that aim to sensitize and educate people about mental health. In the last four years, MANi has provided direct support to over 40,000 people, the majority of which are between the ages of 10 and 25.

After shortages of mental health options for kids and untold grief, counties in Wisconsin have responded with new kinds of support for at-risk youth. Wisconsin communities have increased access with reduced wait time, and have used horse therapy, support groups, charity golf that raises awareness, school-group therapy, as well as mobile live chat sessions, among others.

Over the past several years, Lithuania has implemented a comprehensive national strategy to combat high suicide rates by shifting from a medicalized approach to community-based support. One such strategy is Sidabrinė Linija, or Silver Line, a nonprofit offering free support to isolated seniors by matching them with a “befriender” who shares some of their interests. Since its inception, Silver Line has befriended 6,000 seniors. As a result of combined efforts from multiple initiatives, Lithuania’s suicide rate has dropped from 44 per 100,000 residents in 2004 to 19.5 per 100,000 today.

King County, Washington, is building an alternative mental health care system to avoid escalating unnecessary 911 calls and including law enforcement when it’s not necessarily needed. The County created a mental health-focused response team in collaboration with the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline to divert calls that don’t pose a safety risk and help de-escalate situations. The communications center that fields most of the calls says they get about 20 transfers to the 988 line each month.

Nuci’s Space aims to prevent suicide by providing a safe space for people of all ages, particularly youth, to connect and play music. They also offer affordable practice spaces and mental and physical health care services for participants, including affordable counseling.

Amongst an increased need for mental health care, Monadnock Family Services is offering group therapy to children to get them in for some level of care as staff shortages make offering individual therapy too difficult. The American Psychological Association found that group therapy is as effective as individual therapy for most conditions — as well as more efficient. Monadnock Family Services offers a variety of groups depending on a patient’s interests and identity, like groups for those who enjoy hiking to groups for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Through the Friendship Bench project, local elderly women are trained in the basics of cognitive behavioral therapy and given a park bench in their communities where locals experiencing mental health issues can meet with them to talk and seek therapy. Founded in 2007, the project has helped 280,000 people in 70 communities throughout the country.

ACCESS Open Minds connects youth and young adults to mental health support, including therapists, caseworkers and peer navigators to help them get the care they need. One of ACCESS’s main goals is to bridge the gap between the complexities of the mental health care system and the community. By creating these youth wellness hubs and connecting people with the appropriate services, ACCESS has decreased the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits and increased the number of people getting mental health care.

Mental health therapists in Colorado and the UK independently developed Minecraft-based therapy sessions during the pandemic when traditional play therapy moved online. Therapists create secure virtual worlds where children and teens can engage in therapeutic activities through gameplay. Those who participate are more animated and engaged, and typically never miss a Minecraft session, unlike traditional therapy.

The youth-led Foundation for Younger Generation gives young people a platform to talk about their mental health with peers and licensed therapists. The group hosts events in-person and online through platforms like WhatsApp and has since reached about 400 people.