The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health is amplifying youth voices through its Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), a group of 20 young people from across the country that is helping shape national conversations about mental health and social media.
As part of their work, YAP members recently completed teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) training. We spoke with three youth advisory panelists — Freya, Kalan and Rin — about their experience and how tMHFA training influenced the way they understand, approach, and support mental health, particularly in relation to social media use.
What part of the teen MHFA course was the most impactful?
Freya: I really appreciated the role-play toward the end of the course. It allowed me to immerse myself in uncomfortable situations where this training would be used. It was definitely a difficult exercise, but I’m really grateful I got that experience!
Kalan: I enjoyed learning with my peers from the YAP group about how we can help the people around us. Mental health is a very important part of our lives, and it can impact the relationships we share. It is very important to have others around you who can help when it’s needed. We learned we can be that person to assist.
Rin: The opportunity to hear other participants’ thoughts and reflections was one of the most rewarding parts of the tMHFA course. Discussing approaches to mental health with other high school students across the whole country broadened my perspective and gave me more practice having these challenging conversations.
How can you use what you learned in tMHFA to support your own mental health and the wellbeing of your peers?
Freya: This training has transformed my understanding of mental health. We learned that supporting mental health isn’t about knowing the perfect thing to say or coming up with one perfect solution, because that will never happen. Supporting mental health is about being present and not giving up when it gets hard or uncomfortable.
Kalan: As an individual who enjoys computer science, I’m often in communities where teamwork is essential. The ability to make sure everyone within your environment is OK helps everyone feel better. The most important thing is that it is OK not to be OK sometimes. There are days that will be better than others, but it’s all about how you handle it.
Rin: One of my main takeaways from the tMHFA training was that there is more than one “right” way to demonstrate support to a person in crisis. Both the training and Instructor heavily emphasized that every person experiences mental health challenges differently, and therefore there is no one-size-fits-all circle of support or path to wellbeing. When comforting someone in crisis, your focus should lie on expressing support and empathy rather than trying to find the “perfect” phrasing.
What practices or habits do you encourage for a healthy relationship with social media?
Freya: Something I love to do is social media cleanses! It’s a pretty popular idea, but I think more people should start doing it. Every couple of weeks, I delete a social media app that I feel is taking up too much of my time or whose content is stressing me out. Then, after about a week, I redownload it. This allows me to give my mind a break and makes sure that I never get too attached.
Kalan: I set time limits on the apps that I use daily. I realized that, when I did this, I had time for more productive activities. And I avoided missing out on the things that happened around me. I was able to spend more time with my family, more time on coding projects, and more volunteer hours. This also shaped me into a better individual.
Rin: I think social media can play a big role in supporting positive mental health among young people by serving as a network for building community and exploring identity. I know a lot of people who have used social media to explore their interests or parts of their identity that they might have never discovered had they not been online. However, basic guidelines for usage, such as putting screens away during mealtimes or before bed, make for safer and more controlled social media use.
In your opinion, what role can social media play in supporting positive mental health among young people?
Freya: I believe social media is an amazing tool for self-expression. I find that when you think about social media as a way to explore your identity, it becomes less about what others think about you and more about what you think about yourself. I also think social media can promote good role models. All over these platforms, I see creators promoting niche hobbies or mental wellness, which I think is truly inspiring.
Kalan: It can promote healthy habits and bring people together to do positive activities. There are many nonprofits and organizations like Headstream Innovation and Girls Who Code that promote such great, tight-knit communities. So social media, in my opinion, can bring people together and promote positive activities.
Rin: The tMHFA training really encouraged me to examine how and why I choose to use social media, in addition to how it affects my mood. It also has pushed me to view content differently. Instead of drawing critical comparisons between myself and others or being brought down by negative content, I am comfortable knowing that what I see online isn’t always reality.
Building Communities with tMHFA
Freya, Kalan and Rin highlight the power of youth voices. Giving young people the tools to share their experiences benefits the whole community. It means they can be part of the conversation about mental health and help lead it.
The YAP shows how tools like teen MHFA can empower communities, foster peer support and help build healthier habits. Join us in creating spaces — online and off — where every young person can feel seen, understood and supported.
For more ways to protect your mental health while still staying informed and involved online, check out this advice from the Center of Excellence.
