May is Mental Health Awareness Month‚ and it tends to cause me to step back and reflect on my job and‚ more than that‚ the young people I get to work with every day․
At the Family and Children’s Association (FCA)‚ I have had the opportunity to meet youth where they are‚ and in this case‚ quite literally․ I co-host workshops called Emotions in Motion at local libraries‚ as part of FCA’s Families Healing Together (FHT) initiative‚ to bring discussions about mental health to a setting where many patrons feel most comfortable․
And that’s where a lot of the magic happens.
Why the Setting Matters
There is something about walking into a library‚ as opposed to walking into a clinical office․ But the expectations aren’t as heavy․ I think a lot of the teenagers come in unsure‚ but not guarded․
As we kept coming back to do workshops‚ the library staff would keep saying that their regulars‚ particularly the teens‚ kept asking when we’d be back and would try to call us in․ That was encouraging‚ though‚ because it tells me when you meet young people in the right environment‚ they show up․
Making Emotions Make Sense
One thing I’ve learned quickly is that if you want teens to engage, you have to meet them where they are, in a way that feels real to them. That’s why I often use the movie Inside Out as a starting point.
It gives us a shared language right away. Suddenly, we’re not just talking about “emotions” in an abstract way. We’re talking about characters, reactions, and moments they recognize.
And once that door opens, the conversations become real.
I remember one group where three teen boys were working through a feelings worksheet together. Instead of rushing through it, they slowed down, talked it out, and started offering each other ideas for coping. It shifted from an activity into a genuine moment of connection and support.
In another moment, a teen paused and said, “Wow, I had no idea there were so many emotions. So when I’m feeling afraid, I’m actually feeling overwhelmed.”
That kind of insight doesn’t come from being told what to feel; it comes from having the space to figure it out.
When Coping Skills Click
We always try to move beyond just talking about emotions and into what to do with them. That’s where the sensory bottles come in.
It’s simple water, glitter, and color, but it becomes something more. We talk about what it feels like to be overwhelmed, how everything can feel “shaken up,” and how taking a moment to pause can help things settle.
And the responses say everything.
One teen smiled and said, “I learned a coping skill, and these sensory bottles are so fun.”
Another shared, “I love arts and crafts, I love doing this.”
Those moments matter. Because when something feels approachable when it’s hands-on, creative, even a little fun, it becomes something they’re actually willing to use.
What Stays With Me
What sticks with me most isn’t just the activities, it’s the way the room changes.
At the beginning, there’s often hesitation. Quiet voices. A lot of “I don’t know.”
But by the end, there’s a conversation. Laughter. Teens talking to each other, not just to me.
They learn to name what they feel․ They learn that they’re not the only ones feeling it․ And sometimes‚ they start helping each other through it․
Getting feedback from parents that those conversations are continuing at home is always incredibly meaningful to hear․ It reminds you that even small moments in the room are resonating․
Why This Work Matters
Mental Health Awareness Month is about more than just recognizing that mental health is important; it’s about making it approachable, accessible, and part of everyday conversation.
This work has shown how powerful it can be to step into the community, to create space for honest conversations, and to give young people tools they can actually use.
Sometimes it starts with a movie reference.
Sometimes it’s a worksheet.
Sometimes it’s glitter in a bottle.
But what it really builds is understanding, connection, and the feeling that they’re not alone in what they’re experiencing.
And that’s what stays with them and with me long after the workshop ends.
Brittany Lopez, FCA Clinical Services
