Teen Life

We know you’re not just worried about finishing up your latest homework assignment, playing video games, or borrowing the latest book in your favorite series. There’s more going on in your lives, and we can help.

If you are currently in crisis–and that means any painful emotion for which you need support–please text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline immediately at 1-800-273-8255. These services allow you to speak confidentially to a trained volunteer that can help you get to a calm, safe place. Their services are completely free of charge.

If you’re struggling or hurting or just want more information, please check out the following resources. There are options available to help you cope or just learn more.

Help Yourself In Crisis

Are you in crisis? Crisis Text Line serves anyone, in any type of crisis, providing access to free, 24/7 support and information via text. Here’s how it works. Send a text to 741741 from anywhere in the US, any time, about any type of crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds. A crisis doesn’t just mean suicide: it’s any painful emotion for which you need support. Your opening message can say anything. When you’ve reached a Crisis Counselor, they’ll introduce themselves, reflect on what you’ve said, and invite you to share at your own pace. You’ll then text back and forth with the Crisis Counselor. You never have to share anything you don’t want to. The goal of any conversation is to get you to a calm, safe place. Sometimes that means providing you with a referral to further help, and sometimes it just means being there and listening. All communications with the Crisis Text Line are confidential.

You can call the Lifeline at any time if you are in distress and need to speak to someone. It is not just for people who are considering suicide, but for anyone who is experiencing any kind of emotional pain. A crisis counselor can give you free, confidential support and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.

Get free, confidential support for substance abuse problems. Ask any questions about how to get help, and learn what treatment services are available.

Help Yourself Online

Go Ask Alice provides reliable, accurate information in a sincere and sensitive way so people can make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Go Ask Alice! receives over 1,000 very honest and frank questions each week in seven categories: alcohol and drugs, emotional health, fitness and nutrition, general health, relationships, and sexual and reproductive health. Every question is read, and each week a handful of health professionals give five new thoughtful and thorough answers. Click “Ask Alice” if you have a question!

Teens Against Bullying is here to help you identify and put a stop to bullying. There’s plenty of practical advice on how to deal with bullying, as well as creative ideas for spreading the anti-bullying message.

HEAL, EDUCATE and EMPOWER yourself to support yourself, your friends, and other community members impacted by eating disorders. Learn how to stop the spread of eating disorders, and how to promote greater acceptance of all body types.

Eating disorders, such as bulimia, binge eating disorder, and anorexia, are serious illnesses that involve extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding food, exercise, and body image. Use this site to learn the warning signs and symptoms to look out for, and reach out for support and help if you are struggling with disordered eating.

You know all those topics that everyone wonders about and whispers about but no one is brave enough to actually ask a doctor? Articles about all those issues, and a lot more, are available here.

The teenage years can be tough, and it’s perfectly normal to feel sad or irritable every now and then. But if these feelings don’t go away or become so intense that you can’t handle them, you may be suffering from depression. The good news is that you don’t have to feel this way. Help is available—and you have more power over your mood than you think. There are many things you can do to change the way you feel and start feeling better today.

Visit this site to educate yourself about digital dating abuse. The site features videos that deal with issues like excessive texting and pressure to send risqué photos, and there are lots of “callout cards” to email or post to stop-acne-meds.com sites (“Thank you for your thoughtful text every 10 seconds”). Teens who have a YouTube account can post responses about common dating dilemmas, and the Need Help? page includes guidelines for determining when relationships cross the line.

Help Yourself in the Library

Look for these numbers on the shelves. For more privacy, use the self check-out machines located upstairs near the front doors. Parents of teens and children, check out the parenting collection in the Children’s Room.