Boston Launches Campaign to Support Teen Mental Health
On December 3, 2024, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) announced the launch of “Heads Up, Boston,” a new campaign focused on destigmatizing mental health discussions among the city’s youth.
Led by the BPHC’s Center for Behavioral Health and Wellness, the initiative is designed to encourage teenagers to openly discuss their mental health concerns with each other. Samara Grossman, director of the center, emphasized the critical need for this campaign, stating, ‘This campaign was backed up by the Health of Boston Mental Health Report that came out. Before that, we saw there are intense mental health needs rising for youth as well as everyone in Boston.’
Grossman noted an alarming increase in issues such as persistent sadness, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and stress among youth. She expressed a commitment to addressing these pressing needs.
Pop-Up Event Inspires Engagement
The campaign officially launched on December 5, 2024, with a one-day pop-up event for high school students between the ages of 14 and 19 at Downtown Crossing. Attendees were treated to free merchandise, musical performances, and information about mental health resources.
“I want [the teens] to take away a feeling of being supported and seen and actually having fun,” Grossman explained. ‘What we want them to do is feel even freer to talk about their mental health with each other explicitly, and to be able to give each other support and resources.’
Throughout the event, over 200 teens participated, pledging to take care of themselves and each other while enjoying a variety of campaign-themed merchandise.
Voices of the Youth
Taylah Peterson, a 19-year-old choir member at the Hamilton-Garrett Center for Music and Arts, shared her thoughts during the event: ‘I’m very in touch with my peers and I think mental health is a very big issue, especially when it comes to people my age. Sometimes they feel like they don’t have the resources, or they feel alone. I came to this event to perform and to let everybody know that they’re not alone.’
15-year-old Jormanny remarked on the positive impact of the event: ‘I feel like the event is driving a positive impact, especially with the resources that they have. If you spread those resources, it’s like a domino effect.’
Accessing Resources
For those interested in additional support, resources can be found online at headsupboston.org, which also offers guidance for parents and caregivers on supporting their children’s mental health.
Dr. Kevin Simon, the Chief Behavioral Health Officer for BPHC, shared insights on the broad factors affecting mental health. He stated, ‘Mental health is not just one thing… The environment I’m from, the neighborhood I’m from, the resources… all that impacts one’s mental health.’
Simon expressed optimism about the initiative, hoping it encourages young people from various backgrounds to seek help: ‘Whether you are in the South End, Roslindale, Dorchester, Hyde Park, or Eastie, we want to help.’
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