In 2024, Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative was awarded a collaborative reporting grant by Solutions Journalism Network to focus on youth mental health. The grant comes on the heels of the SWMJC’s successful two-year Mental Wellness Project, funded by Solutions Journalism Network, which produced 75 stories on mental health topics in the region, including 47 that were translated into Spanish. In addition, with the U.S. Surgeon General’s recent advisory report on the impact of social media on youth mental health, the importance of covering current solutions to address this issue became even more evident.
Read the U.S. Surgeon General’s “Social Media and Youth Mental Health” report here.
Audio gathered by students in the Fall 2024 Multimedia Journalism course at Western Michigan University.
In September, students in the Fall 2024 Multimedia Journalism course at Western Michigan University conducted a student-on-campus audio project, interviewing fellow students about youth mental health and how to speak to an adult about the need for mental health support. The project was led by Sue Ellen Christian, the WMU Presidential Innovation Professor in Communication, and is part of the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative’s youth mental health project supported by Solutions Journalism Network.
Therapist and author Patti Criswell discusses anxiety, its different forms, and how it manifests in children and young adults, emphasizing the importance of addressing it early. Key points include the rise in anxiety among today’s youth, the role of sleep, diet, screen time, and physical touch in managing anxiety, and practical coping strategies like mindful breathing and challenging irrational thoughts. The therapist also touches on building resilience in young people and fostering healthy relationships.
Podcast hosted by Sierra Ward.
Produced by Public Media Network.
©2023 Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative (SWMJC)
Spanish