It’s not easy to be a teen in today’s chaotic and constantly changing world. Dealing with the burdens of our over-stressed, over-committed society — all while trying to grow, develop, and find happiness can lead to emotional overload.

Not to mention, it’s a scary world out there lately, with traumatic events happening all over the globe including school shootings. That’s terrifying stuff for anyone to handle.

According to the CDC, depression and anxiety in children have increased over time, and a New York Times article reports that “In a recent American Psychological Association survey of more than 1,000 teenagers between 13 and 17 in the U.S., 43 percent said that their stress levels have increased over the past year.”

Luckily, there are tools that can help our kids develop coping strategies that can improve their mental health and help boost the effectiveness of any other treatments you and they might feel would be best.

Getting Them the Help They Need

Modern medicine has come a long way in treating psychological issues; finding skilled and compassionate psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists as well as Mental Health coaches can help young people get better.

Finding the right therapist or practitioner is key; they need to be able to connect with their clients and offer guidance that supports positive change.

In addition to traditional treatments, today more and more people are using holistic treatments that are safe, natural, and have been proven to be extremely effective.

Less Stress, More Self-Esteem

A recent study has shown that mind-body practices can literally change DNA. NBC News put it: “they actually have the ability to reverse molecular reactions to stress in our DNA that can lead to poor health and depression.”

That’s huge, particularly for young people who are trying to adopt healthy habits for a thriving life.

Coping Skills Are Key

If you’ve got a teen in need of mental health help — or you’re a young person yourself — there are lots of ways to benefit from different, healthy mind/body practices.

Here are some suggestions:

Try SOS Method™.

SOSmethod (SOS) was developed by a Mental Health Pioneer and has more than 2 decades of qualitative research demonstrating how rapidly effective it is for teens as well as adults. There are evidenced-based tools that can relieve stress in just 5 minutes!

There is a Happy Kids program for 12 and under that helps to shift a negative state of mind and build new habits that develop wellbeing and lifelong happiness. Kids say the process is so enjoyable they actually enjoy practicing it.

The App also has programs, tips, tools, and stories specifically for teens that promote rapid effective behavior change. Some of the stories are about young people who noticed positive things happening within just hours.

While smartphones and computers can be distracting, they can also serve a positive purpose. There are also programs for teens, and college students, so everyone can use their favorite tech to do quick, easy sessions in 5 or 11 minutes on the SOSmethod app.

Just like the 2 decades of qualitative research has shown, they can expect reduced anxiety, greater self-esteem, better relationships, and to become more courageous and empowered.

Lead by example.

If you’re the parent of a child or teen, make sure you’re engaging in a mind/body practice like SOSmethod yourself. Set time aside each morning or afternoon. Once they see how much happier it makes you — and how great it makes you feel — they’ll want to get on board, too.

Psychologists have long known that children imitate adults, so give them something awesome to emulate! Adult mental health = youth mental health. And it gives you both a common ground where communication improves as well as kindness and caring.

Take it outside.

It’s summer, it’s sunny, and fresh air is SO GOOD FOR YOU. Do your SOSmethod Meditations and Programs outdoors — use the SOS Elevate & Energize series, which you can do while walking or driving with the kids. Or take the whole family out and do a group relaxation before kayaking, hiking, or swimming. Being out in nature will make it super fun for everyone and set the stage for a fantastic day.

Reward positive habits.

If you’re a parent, guardian, or teacher, give kids incentives to practice SOSmethod daily or 3x a week by offering challenges and rewards. Make sure you’re doling out lots of healthy goodies — tasty snacks, special outings, fun games — or anything else they’re really excited about.

Add it to the workday.

If you’re a young adult just starting out in the work world, bringing training with Mind Fitness Tools into your office environment will help each day go better. Add a five-minute SOSmethod ‘power-up’ or ‘R&R Meditation break to your lunch hour, or make sure it’s the first thing you do when you arrive in the a.m. It’ll bring inspiration and focus to everything you do.

Get involved.

Joining in on local political causes or helping with other important societal issues can feel empowering rather than a loss of control in a crazy world. Find a nonprofit or other organization that supports the same ideals you do — then bring your kids in on it. Show them the power of community action, and help them stand strong for what they believe.

Youth mental health affects all of us — and impacts our global community in a big way. According to one study published in the Journal of Caring Sciences, “Approximately 35 percent of American children experience stress-related health problems.” We need to give our teens and young people evidenced-based tools that are natural, effective, and simple to do, that can empower them to be happy, healthy, and well-adjusted.

We can all be responsible for helping to build a happier, kinder, and more inspired world together!