Your Teen & Mental Health

Dr. Dave Miers, senior director of behavioral health services at Bryan Medical Center and Andrea Ruiz, therapist at Bryan Counseling Center discuss how you can build self-confidence in teens, identify warning signs and when to seek help, and share ways to connect with teens. Additionally, Dr. Miers and Andrea also answered questions submitted by viewers to help address some specific areas, including substance abuse, social media use and rural mental health resources.

Resources to help you and your teen

You want the best for your child - whether that's helping them expand their horizons to build connections and self-confidence, or helping them through difficult times and mental health challenges. The best way to help them is by providing them with resources and support.

Here is a short list of some of the most helpful resources recommended by our Bryan Behavioral Health Services team.

Crisis

• 9-8-8 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or Text
• 741741 Crisis Text Line — Text to talk
• Mental Health Emergency Department at Bryan West — Emergency mental health care/crisis assessments 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Online Tools

• Mental Health Online Screenings — Take a free, confidential screening for your mental health
• Common Sense Media — Media recommendations and advice for families
• FireFox for Families — How to make an awkward conversation about online safety with your kid slightly less awkward
• Wait until 8th — Pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade

Support

• Trevor Project — Provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people
• Trans Lifeline — Trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support and resources they need to survive and thrive

Self Confidence

• Think2Perform — Identify what your teen values most
• I Am App — Daily affirmations help rewire our brains, build self-esteem and change negative thought patterns

Finding Mental Health Providers

• Find a Family Practice Provider — Your family doctor can provide referrals and resources to help with mental health concerns
• Find a Pediatrician — Pediatricians can provide referrals and resources to help with mental health concerns
• Find a Psychiatrist — Mental health specialists for all ages - children, teens, adults
• Bryan Counseling Center — Family counseling, crisis assistance, relationship issues, stress – Bryan Counseling Center professionals support and guide you through rough times
• Psychology Today — Browse and find profiles of top Psychology Today listed therapists in Nebraska
• Employer EAP — Employee Assistance Programs
• Insurance Company — Find in-network providers accepting new patients
• SAMHSA Find Treatment — Find treatment facilities and programs in the United States or U.S. Territories for mental and substance use disorders

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Guides

• Family Support Guide — Tips to help a loved one dealing with mental and/or substance use
• Family Conversation Guide — What to say: Ways to start a conversation with a loved one dealing with mental and/or substance use
• Bryan Independence Center — Provides evaluations, treatment and support for alcohol and substance use

Suicide Prevention

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — Learn about suicide, how you can help prevent it and resources for those affected

Community Resources

• Lincoln Kids — Free family guide to the Lincoln, Nebraska area that highlights kid-friendly events, activities, camps, resources and support
• Macaroni Kid — Provides local activity guides & news for parents & families to find family-fun things to do like events & activities, calendars, articles, giveaways and resource guides for Lincoln, Nebraska area
• Lincoln Lighthouse — Accredited After-School Program that offers middle and high school aged-youth academic support, evening meals and enrichment/recreational activities during non-school hours
• The Bay — A youth-only safe place in Lincoln, Nebraska that offers activities and support to engage and empower youth
• Lincoln TeamMates — Mentoring program that matches young people with one-to-one mentors
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America — One-to-one mentoring program that provides the critical social and emotional development needed to help build resilience and promote mental health and well-being in the children
• Regional Behavioral Health Authorities — Provides a list of Administrators across Nebraska's six Behavioral Health Regions