Teaching mental health skills that last a lifetime
Mental Health 101 is an award-winning book and curriculum that shows students how to take the next step in their lifelong journey toward greater mental health and wellbeing. Written by four leading experts, Mental Health 101 gives teens practical tools for living a life of respect, responsibility, and resiliency.
$24.99
Watch an Interview with Lead Author Tom Thelen
The Top 10 Goals of Mental Health 101
- Mental Health 101 makes a clear distinction between temporary feelings of anxiety or depression (which are common for all teens) and longer forms of mental illness, such as clinical depression, which can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional.
- Mental Health 101 is non-controversial in nature and does not promote any political or religious agendas. The program promotes individual responsibility.
- Mental Health 101 teaches positive behaviors and mental wellbeing skills like respect, responsibility, resiliency, and coping skills for stress and anxiety.
- Mental Health 101 prevents at-risk and self-destructive behaviors like self-harm, suicide, depression, and anxiety.
- Mental Health 101 teaches students to get support by talking to a trusted adult, such as a parent, guardian, teacher, or a mental health professional.
- Mental Health 101 shows students how to get help if someone is having a mental health crisis, such as a panic attack or suicidal thoughts. The program also educates students on the most common mental illnesses, learning disorders, and disabilities.
- Mental Health 101 teaches students how to have respectful conversations, even when they disagree with someone.
- Mental Health 101 is non-judgmental, and it allows students to participate at their own comfort level.
- Mental Health 101 can be taught as a Tier-1 class for all middle school and high school students.
- Mental Health 101 is a research-based program that will soon become evidence-based, as we study the impact it has on positive school culture.
- Funding for this program is available through SAMHSA, Project AWARE, and The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Teens are more anxious than ever before.
Download our free PDF: 7 Tools for Reducing Anxiety. This brief guide gives teens effective and practical tools that are proven to reduce anxiety and increase resiliency.
Mental Health 101 shows teens how to cope with stress and anxiety and how to live a life of resiliency. Written by a diverse team of experts, Mental Health 101 gives teens practical tools for:
- Responsibility
- Resiliency
- Coping Skills
- At-Risk Behavior Prevention
90% OF TEENS
90% of teens in the U.S. are never taught basic mental health skills at school, such as how to cope with stress and anxiety.
1,400 to 1...
the current ratio of students to school psychologists
500 to 1...
the current ratio of students to school counselors
Meet The Authors
Mental Health 101 Table of Contents
- Meet the Authors
- What is Mental Health?
- Self-Esteem & Mental Health
- Mental Illness & Teens
- COVID-19 & Mental Health
- Appreciating our Differences
- Emotional Intelligence
- Empathy
- Human Needs
- Self-Care
- Healthy Living
- Support Systems
- Identity
- Trauma
- Boundaries
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Coping Skills
- Suicide Prevention
- Mental Conditions & Disorders
- Autism
- Learning Disabilities
- Addiction & Self Harm
- Responsibility
- Resiliency
- Becoming Your Best Self
Live Interview with Tom Thelen
A Message From Tom Thelen
Hi, I’m Tom Thelen, lead author of Mental Health 101 for Teens. When I was a teen, I was overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. It was coming from everywhere: at school, online, even at home. I felt trapped, so I never talked about my struggles. Thankfully, I connected with my high school English Teacher, Mrs. Burdick. She quickly became my trusted adult – the person I could talk to without feeling judged. She helped me get into counseling, and it was a huge help! The wisdom I learned back then became the seeds of hope that grew in my heart for many years. It wasn’t an overnight change, but choice after choice…
I became a new person.
And that’s what we’re trying to do with Mental Health 101 and Project AWARE. We’re giving teens the basics, so they will begin opening up to the trusted adults in their lives: their parents, teachers, and mentors.
As a writing team of four authors, we come from different backgrounds and upbringings, but we all have one mission with the book: we’re here to give teens absolutely everything we have… every insight, every piece of advice, and every skill we wish we had back when we were young. We hope you’ll buy multiple copies of this book, and even better, use our curriculum as a core class in your school!
What is Project AWARE?
Project AWARE is a new grant program funded by SAMHSA. AWARE stands for Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education. The Project AWARE program builds or expands the capacity of State Educational Agencies (SEA), in partnership with State Mental Health Agencies (SMHAs) overseeing school-aged youth. By building or expanding capacity, the program advances wellness and resiliency in education by increasing mental health awareness in schools across states, territories, and tribal communities.
Project AWARE also provides training for school personnel and other adults who interact with school-aged youth to detect and respond to mental health challenges, and connects school-aged youth, who may present with behavioral health challenges and their families to needed services.
The program has increased mental health literacy among the schools and communities, removed barriers to find care, and ensured cultural relevance for all school programs. With the continuous support from SAMHSA, Project AWARE focuses on improving school climate and trauma informed programs to improve the care for school-aged youth.
Member schools get access to our
Digital Curriculum & Teacher's Guide
- Mental Health 101 eBook (unlimited downloads!)
- Classroom Discussion Guides for all chapters & sub-chapters
- Small Group Activities & Collaborative Conversations
- Student Journal Prompts for personal growth goals
- Family Discussion Guides in English, Spanish, & Chinese
- All this content is exclusive with your school membership
