From small children to university students, young people of all ages need attention and care to nurture their mental health. Here are three innovative ways young people are supported today—and by extension, encouraged to thrive.
Daily Affirmations for All
Charm Words—an award-winning daily affirmations podcast for children of color—is expanding its reach with the launch of the first-ever Spanish daily affirmations podcast for children. “Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, and Latine is the fastest growing group in the US. So, we knew we had to launch Charm Words Español to reach more children and parents,” says Wanda Reynolds, ABF Creative’s Chief Content Officer, in a press release. The new show is based on its English counterpart, offering daily, “psychologist-approved” affirmations to help kids navigate big emotions and build the foundations for self-worth and self-care.
Care Fairs are the New Career Fairs
While in the throes of studying for final exams, Penn State University students had the opportunity to drop by the Care Fair—an interactive gathering to “take a break and learn about mindfulness, stress management, and sleep,” says Erin Raupers, assistant director of Health Promotion and Wellness, on the university website. By attending, students learned wellness strategies to carry with them throughout the school year and were also equipped with free “Manage Stress” workbooks and sleep kits.
Meet Robin the Robot
A mental health robot (yes, named Robin) currently makes the rounds at children’s hospitals and geriatric facilities. The robot’s job is to roam the hallways, approaching patients who want to play games, listen to music, sing karaoke, or have a conversation. “It cognitively stimulates patients to really feel happy and comfortable again,” Peter Attalla, Director of Sales at Expper Technologies, told KTLA. Robin uses AI technology to carry out emotional interactions, and a pilot study showed that interacting with Robin increased young patients’ cheerfulness and physical appetite and reduced their stress. However, the robot does rely on some human assistance—a mental health professional is always available on the back end of the program.
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Russell Did It! What Nanalan’ Teaches About Honesty and Problem-Solving
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A Guided Meditation Script to Help Kids Explore Feelings About Change
This meditation can help children mindfully notice and cope with the big emotions that come with the nature of change.
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Nanalan’: The Viral Show That Models How Mindfulness Looks and Feels
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