Teens Too Young to Vote May Still Suffer From Election Anxiety

 Schools have an opportunity to help teens address election-related stress and recognize signs of stress in peers

Experts at the UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Social Work Behavioral Health Springboard (BHS) provide guidance for managing “post-election stress” in schools throughout the election season. Heightened political tension and uncertainty can have a significant impact on the mental health of teens, who are especially susceptible to this stress because they are exposed to the information without yet having the ability to exercise the right to vote. Because teens tend to primarily relay this stress to other teens, experts are encouraging schools to utilize curriculums like teen Mental Health First Aid to ensure access to the tools and vocabulary teens need to manage their anxiety.

Amaris Sampson, School-based Mental Health First Aid Coordinator at BHS and an expert on teen mental health explained, "We have to recognize that teens experience stress, just like adults. Election stress is an excellent example of a time when teens are exposed to something outside of their control. It can be very stressful. Especially if you don't have the skills or words to know how to address and recognize that stress appropriately. A curriculum like tMHFA can be life-changing in helping a teenager understand how to recognize these signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in themselves and their peers, and how to seek support,” Sampson continued.

Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) is an evidence-based international curriculum. It is paired with Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) which teaches adults to not only recognize signs and symptoms of challenges, but also, teaches them how to be the trusted adults teens can turn to when they need guidance. The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, School of Social Work, Behavioral Health Springboard has implemented the Mental Health First Aid initiative state-wide and has facilitated trainings for public and private high schools, and youth-serving organizations throughout North Carolina. In tMHFA, teen participants learn to:

• Identify common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges
• Initiate conversations about mental health with peers and trusted adults
• Seek help from trusted adults and understand how to access resources

While this curriculum can be taught year-round and is not designed for specific events or moments in time, these steps allow teens to navigate difficult conversations and even differentiate between general frustrations vs genuine signs of a potential crisis.

BHS encourages parents, administrators, teachers and teens to learn what resources are available at their school and in their community to show support for increased mental health support in schools and communities.

About Behavioral Health Springboard (BHS): BHS is a department at UNC-Chapel Hill, School of Social Work that links current research to training programs across North Carolina.

Notes and links for editor:

Behavioral Health Springboard: https://bhs.unc.edu/

More about Mental Health First Aid: https://www.ncymhfa.org

Articles & Videos: https://ncymhfa.org/resources/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241104233730/en/