Funded Projects

Family and Teen Mental Health Awareness-Raising 

Project Year

2025

City & State

Omaha, Nebraska

Program Name

CATCH Implementation

Topic

Mental Health (LHI)

Program Description

Problem   Youth mental health is in crisis.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the second leading cause of death among children and adolescents aged 10-24. Locally, 20% of children in the Omaha Metro Area are receiving mental health treatment, while 7.8% of children have been unable to access needed mental health resources in the past year. (2024 Child and Adolescent Health Needs Assessment conducted by Children’s Nebraska--free standing children's hospital in Omaha).     Parents play a critical role in shaping their children’s mental health, but many are unsure how to address mental health with their teens. In a recent survey of South Omaha parents conducted by partner Completely KIDS (CK), 72% of parents rated their knowledge of teen mental health issues as somewhat or very knowledgeable and 63% were comfortable talking with their teen about mental health. In practice, however, only 31% talk with their kids at least once a week about mental health.    Parents themselves also struggle with mental health challenges. The National Survey of Children's Health reveals that 1 in 14 (7%) children has a caregiver with poor mental health, which can negatively influence their child’s well-being. The CK survey was much more concerning, with 33% of surveyed parents rating their mental health as poor or fair. These issues are exacerbated by systemic barriers, including cultural stigma, lack of affordable resources, and limited access to qualified providers.    Primary Setting   The program will be implemented in partnership with Completely KIDS, a trusted community organization serving families in South Omaha.  This project will help expand Completely KIDS mental health services and education to include a two-generation, bilingual approach. All activities will be held in the Completely KIDS headquarters, accessible by families in this community. Resources and education will be provided in both spoken and written English and Spanish.    Number of Children Affected   This project will directly serve 50 teenagers (age 12-18), and an additional 50 caregivers (goal to involve 1 caregiver per teen). By targeting both youth and parents, the program will address the interconnected challenges of teen and caregiver mental health, with ripple effects benefiting siblings and the broader community.  Project Goal   The primary goal of this project is to increase knowledge and awareness of mental health, highlight local mental health resources, and explore the role parental mental health plays in teen well-being. The program will encourage early intervention and reduce stigma regarding access of mental health care.   Proposed Intervention  This project involves separate interactive bilingual workshops tailored for teens and caregivers followed by a Family Celebration, where participants come together to share experiences, reflect, and strengthen bonds.  Workshops for Parents:  How to communicate with your teen: education on teen and parent mental health.   Identifying the Signs: Recognizing symptoms of mental health concerns. Protecting Teen Mental Health in the Age of Social Media.  Navigating Resources: Practical steps to finding help for your child’s mental health   Workshops for Teens:  Mental Health 101: Understanding symptoms, seeking help, and self-care.  Building Healthy Relationships: How to foster trust and respect with others.  Managing Stress Effectively: Techniques such as mindfulness and Gratitude Mapping.  Social Media and Self-Esteem: Exploring positive ways to engage with social media.   Anticipated outcomes:  Increased Awareness: Parents will develop a deeper understanding of the connection between their mental health and child’s well-being. Teens will develop improved self-awareness of mental health.   Resource Accessibility: Families will have actionable steps and will be able to identify local resources to address mental health challenges.    Behavioral Changes: Teens will demonstrate improved self-regulation and stress management    Reduced Stigma: Open conversations will help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage early intervention. 

Project Goal

The primary goal of this project is to increase parent knowledge and awareness of mental health, explore the role parental mental health plays in teen mental health and improve caregiver and teen understanding of mental health, foster early intervention, and reduce stigma around seeking help. 

Project Objective 1

Improve the parental knowledge of teen mental health.  90% of parents participating in the program would rate their knowledge of teen mental health at somewhat or very knowledgeable at the end of the program survey.

Project Objective 2

Parents will recognize the role their own mental health plays in their teen’s well-being.  90% of parents participating in the program would rate their knowledge of adult mental health resources in the community at somewhat or very knowledgeable at the end of the program survey.

Project Objective 3

Families will be encouraged to normalize talking about mental health struggles and concerns. Increase to 50% of parents participating in the program talking with their teens weekly about mental health at the end of the program survey.

AAP District

District VI

Institutional Name

University of Nebraska Medicine

Contact 1

Rachel Johnson, MD

Contact 2

Stephanie Claudy, MD