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The National Center for School Mental Health estimates that between 12 and 22 percent of school-aged children and youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Parents and schools play critical roles in assisting children who are experiencing mental health issues. The struggle is often being able to identify children who are in need of support. Parents and teachers often miss the signs that a teen is in crisis, and some of these signs may not even be obvious.
As the number of young people with depression and anxiety continues to rise, schools are becoming more and more important as places to learn about and get help for mental health. 70% of children in the U.S. who seek and receive mental health support get it at school.
School-based services help students navigate the system. When there are services at schools, kids are more likely to ask for help. They may also be more likely to get help sooner. Due to a lack of mental health providers nationwide, the wait to see a private practitioner can be as long as six months.
Tell My Story has developed a school program geared towards parents and educators to help identify kids who are struggling and find the support they need to improve their mental health.
It is essential to ensure that students and young adults have better access to mental health resources in our schools and communities through early identification, education, and awareness.
Research shows that early intervention helps reduce the impact of mental health challenges on individuals and society as a whole. By developing effective strategies for getting the help students need, we can ensure our children are in a safe and supportive environment to learn and grow.
Tell My Story Can Help
Tell My Story’s school program is designed to meet the individual needs of all students, regardless of their circumstances. Through a series of interactive activities and discussions, it helps parents and educators identify signs and symptoms of mental health issues in kids as early as possible. It also provides information about available resources and support systems to help them get the help they
The school program consists of two parts.
Part 1 - The Documentary
“What I Wish My Parents Knew” is a 45-minute documentary film that explores the inner struggles of several children battling depression and anxiety in silence. They bravely share their pain of living in crisis and express in great detail what they wish their parents and families would have known and how they could have helped.
Part 2 - The Discussion
After watching the film, a local mental health professional will lead a 45-minute discussion where parents can ask questions, discuss their struggles, and more. By the end of the program, parents will have gained a better understanding of their children’s mental health and how to best support them.
PARENT SUPPORT
At the end of the discussion, parents will better understand the local mental health resources available in their community. They will also be given free, unlimited access to a private parent community at TellMyStory.org containing targeted mental health resources to better understand their child’s mental health. There, they can access an anonymous, online mental health screening tool that uses the latest AI technology to generate an individualized report that can be shared with a doctor or mental health professional.
Have you ever wondered what was going on inside…
Have you ever wondered what was going on inside the mind of a child you’re worried about, but they just wouldn’t open up? What I Wish My Parents Knew will introduce you to what’s going on in your child and enable you to change the conversations you’re having into being more patient, empathic and warm, which is just what they need to open up to you.
Fiona M.
Founder-CEO, WILD
Real teenagers share some of the darkness…
Real teenagers share some of the darkness that teenagers feel—and how we can help. The interviews in this film show you, gracefully and honestly, the darkness some teenagers have been through—and how you can help teenagers you know.
Bill C.
Heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time
Heart-warming and heart-breaking at the same time. A much needed piece on mental health that provides a sobering look into what some youths are experiencing. I gained greater empathy for their struggles and started to understand ways to be supportive, giving me hope. Much more to be learned.
Molly T.
An incredibly important examination of an incredibly important issue
What I Wish My Parents Knew” is an incredibly important examination of an incredibly important issue. Looking deeply into an issue as important childhood mental health and suicidal ideation is so important. Hearing this issue discussed in the voices of children who have endured this pain is deeply moving. I recommend this video with deep conviction and admiration for the children whose voices we hear and for Jason Reid and the directors who produced it.
Doug G.
I highly recommend What I Wish My Parents Knew
I highly recommend What I Wish My Parents Knew. What I found so valuable in this program was the fact that the creators weren’t trying to make a “movie.” Instead, they really captured the raw and unfiltered thoughts and feelings of youth such that we as parents could more deeply understand what was in their heads and hearts, and in effect, help us understand what may be going through our own loved ones minds and hearts. I have never seen such a real and respectful illustration of youth and what they may be going through.
Prakash R.