Teen Mental Wellness Empowering Minds: Women United
Parents want what’s best for their kids. They work hard to provide food, shelter, clothing, education, and a safe place to grow. But when teens spend the majority of their time at school, it can be difficult for parents to fully understand how their child is doing emotionally and mentally.
It’s why Women United, one of United Way’s largest donor networks, proudly supports Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds, an initiative that brings vital mental health resources directly into our local high schools.
High school is a pivotal time. Adolescents face intense pressure from academics to social expectations to simply figuring out who they are. Many are silently carrying emotional burdens, and too often, they don’t know where to turn.
“This initiative is so important because when we take on issues at United Way, we’re addressing things that we can solve,” said April Dunn, Women’s Leadership Council Member.
By putting mental wellness support within schools, we’re giving students the tools to care for themselves and empowering educators to recognize when someone may be struggling. It’s about creating a culture where asking for help is normal, and access to that help is immediate and meaningful.
When our community prioritizes teen mental wellness, we’re not just improving learning. We’re nurturing self-worth, resilience, and belonging. We’re preventing crises before they begin and giving teens the support they need to thrive.
“Students are actively asking for help. Parents are asking for help,” said Ginger Lazovik, Women’s Leadership Council Member. “This is a need that we can meet if we put our heads together and get behind it.”
When you donate to United Way’s Teen Mental Wellness: Empowering Minds initiative, you’re doing more than donating. You’re showing our young people that their well-being matters. That we’re listening. That we care. United is the Way we show up for our kids — and their futures.