The Saginaw County Health Department, in collaboration with the College of Health and Human Services at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU), has launched Mental Healthopedia, an online self-help mental health resource aimed at assisting young people who may be struggling. Nearly one in seven people in Michigan live with a serious mental illness, and leaders have acknowledged that the state is in a mental health crisis.
Developed by Cathy Macomber, assistant dean of the College of Health and Humane Services at SVSU, and the Saginaw County Health Department’s BWell division, Mental Healthopedia allows teens to log on and learn more about different ways they may be feeling in terms of their body, relationships, or brain. The resource presents a comprehensive guide that provides a good starting point for different feelings and what help is available to them.
Macomber said that the tool is intended to provide a space where young people can share their mental health struggles without fear of stigma. Mental Healthopedia offers mindfulness exercises, grounding techniques, and tips for talking to a therapist to help users cope with different issues in their lives.
Parents like Tara Stevenson, whose biracial son struggled with racial tensions as well as depression during COVID-19, hope that this tool will help other young people who are also struggling. With a high prevalence of youth mental illness in Michigan, it is important to promote mental health education and awareness so that young people can feel empowered to address their mental health concerns.
