In this focus group, high school students discuss a variety of issues related to youth mental health. The video can be beneficial to multiple audiences.

School districts, PTA/PTO meetings, grandparent support groups, foster care training programs, and mental health providers would benefit from experiencing the honest, heartfelt input of youth and their views on mental illness and the struggles they face in everyday situations. Youth input could result in supportive and change-producing interventions that meet actual youth needs rather than the adults’ perceived needs of youth.

It will be important to remind adults that youth today have very different perspectives and deal with unique stressors that are different from the adult generation. Being non-judgmental, empathetic, and compassionate about their struggles is necessary in understanding and intervening with youth of today.

Adults can be advocates, reduce stigma, and make mental health matter. And a teacher can be the one person who makes a difference for a student.

Youth in general would also benefit from the insight provided by the participants in the video. Hearing the challenges that their peers encounter can stimulate and encourage open discussion about individual, unique struggles that viewers face. The video can also be used by focus group facilitators.

During these types of discussions with youth, it is necessary to set healthy boundaries. Remind youth to be respectful of the subject matter and differences of opinions and experiences that may exist. Encourage them to avoid using names or identifying information when describing another person’s experience. During focus groups, always remind youth to protect and maintain confidentiality so that each person feels safe in providing open and honest input.