There is no way around it, being a human being comes with challenges, and those challenges are often multiplied during the teenage years. Thanks to a variety of additional resources and support systems around mental health, trends are heading in the right direction. Federal data shows that suicidal ideation and attempts have declined among teenageers, but there is more to be done.
Like many schools and school districts in the region, Central Public Schools partners with the amazing nonprofit organization 2B CONTINUED out of Glencoe whose mission is to increase awareness of suicide prevention, mental health and wellness through advocacy, education and outreach. The Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) program teaches teens in grades 9-12 how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers. The training gives teens the skills they need to have supportive conversations with their friends and emphasizes the importance of getting help from a responsible and trusted adult.
At Central Secondary School, students take part in a training program where 2B CONTINUED comes into ninth grade health class during the fall. The goal of the training is multifaceted including:
Recognizing early warning signs
Reducing stigma and promoting belonging
Building peer support networks
Communication and active listening skills
Understanding help-seeking and resources
Self-care and resilience
Each ninth grader then has the tools to carry with them to recognize warning signs when a friend or themselves is at risk. See something, say something.
There are some encouraging signs that training like this is getting results. 2B CONTINUED shared post-training survey results that reflect combined data from all 22 participating schools, representing 1,691 students across 73 class sections, collected from August 2025 through May 2026.
Before the training, only 9% of students felt extremely confident about starting a conversation with someone who was going through a mental health crisis. After the training, that number jumped to 28% with other big increases in those feeling somewhat confident. Even more importantly, the number of students who shared they would be able to recognize the signs of a mental health challenge or crisis skyrocketed from 33% before the training to 90% after the training.
“We want our students to know that the single best thing they can do if they see a friend struggling is to show support and connect with them,” said Superintendent Tim Schochenmaier. “We all face challenges and by being aware of the warning signs and feeling empowered to support those around us, we can truly save lives.”
While the struggles of teenagers may never fully disappear, Central Public Schools and organizations like 2B CONTINUED are making sure that awareness continues to grow.