In response to the growing mental wellness needs of teenagers and young adults ages 12 to 22, Staunton Farm Foundation proudly supports the UpStreet program at Jewish Family & Community Services (JFCS).

As the Director of Youth Services, I’ve spent more than two decades working with youth in various capacities at JFCS. From the foster care and adoption department to traversing various roles providing therapeutic interventions, one thing has remained constant: the growing need for specialized teenage mental wellness programs.

In recent years, we’ve observed concerning trends in teen mental wellness. Depression, anxiety, and eating disorders are all on the rise. The prominence of social media, coupled with societal pressures, has created an environment where young minds are increasingly vulnerable. However, amidst these challenges, there’s also a growing recognition of the importance of mental wellness, both within families and society at large.

World Teen Mental Wellness Day isn’t just another date on the calendar; it acknowledges that mental wellness matters and empowers teens amidst a growing conversation about adolescent mental health. Encouraging young people to speak openly about their mental health, destigmatizing the conversation, and making it accessible and accepted is how we give them agency to be a part of the conversation about what services we can provide for them.

Teen mental health and adult mental health need to be approached in different ways. We have to understand the unique developmental challenges adolescents face. Teenagers are in the throes of self-discovery, grappling with identity formation and societal integration, while lacking the autonomy of adulthood. Balancing academic pressures, future uncertainties, and the omnipresence of social media exacerbates these struggles, making mental wellness a particularly nuanced issue for this demographic.

At UpStreet, our goal is to provide comprehensive mental health support for teens. Through a combination of individual therapy, group programs, and innovative virtual platforms, we meet youth where they are, offering accessible and stigma-free services. We’re able to provide therapy at no cost, so if a young person doesn’t have enough money to cover a co-pay or they don’t want their parents to know that they’re in therapy, we’re able to provide help anyway. In addition to individual therapy, we provide brief support services in-person or virtually on our website. We have an online chat if teens feel like they want to have a conversation with a mental health professional where therapists are responding in real time. Teens are often messaging on social media and being able to provide mental health support that’s familiar and accessible to them has been really successful.

Staunton Farm Foundation’s funding has helped us grow and expand and allows us to provide mental health services at no cost to teens. UpStreet will strive to continue to be trusted shoulders for teens to lean on. Looking ahead, UpStreet’s goals are to expand its reach and capacity throughout the community. We have a wonderful building in a great location that students walk past every day and stop by for a snack and an opportunity to connect with our staff. We want young people to walk through our doors and reach out. We would like to connect our afterschool programming with immigrant support and hire additional full-time therapists. We currently have four therapists but additional staff will allow us to meet the ever-growing need.

To all parents: you play a pivotal role in supporting your teens’ mental health journey. Open communication, active listening, and validation of their experiences are paramount. Instead of dismissing concerns or attempting to “fix” their struggles, offer unconditional support and guidance and encourage teens to seek help when needed. Initiate the conversation. Ask them questions, and though you may not always get an answer, let them know that you’re there for them. Our online chat isn’t just for teens, if you are a parent and need guidance on how to approach the conversation with your child, we’re here for you too.

UpStreet is available seven days a week. The online chat is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 8pm and Friday and Saturday from 2am to 10am. The building is open for walk-in brief support Monday through Friday from noon to 5pm. Learn more and connect with us at Upstreetpgh.org.