Teen Self-Help
Online mental wellness resources curated by teens for teens.
About the Teen Self-Help Page
Welcome to My Good Brain’s Teen Self-Help webpage! This page is curated by our incredible MGB Teen Programs Volunteers, who are teens just like you! In this page, you will find online resources, books, art, music, movies, and other items geared towards your mental wellbeing. Get to know our MGB Team below and check out what we’ve got in store for you this month!
Meet the Team
Riya searched for relatable films for teenagers.
Shyanne led the team — splitting up the tasks and developing the page.
Stephanie shared her experiences on the podcast to connect with people.
Jenni created a comfort playlist that lasts up to 43 minutes!
Makayla provided us with tons of creative outlets including recipes!
February reminds us that love, both for ourselves and others, is a powerful tool for mental well-being. By nurturing compassion and kindness, we can build stronger emotional resilience. Take time this month to reflect on your strengths and practice self-love. Surround yourself with positivity, and remember that every step toward mental health is a victory worth celebrating.
FEBRUARY: LOVE & MENTAL HEALTH
MONTHLY PODCAST
Click the icon for the monthly podcast update on relatable topics!!
Teen Blog Corner
Blog posts written by our MGB Volunteers about teen mental health.
Your Winter Playlist
Check out what’s in rotation on our Spotify playlists this season
Features a blend of instrumental tracks and calming sounds designed to boost concentration & reduce stress.
Features gentle, calming tracks and familiar melodies that create a soothing and reassuring atmosphere.
Teen Self Discovery
Find Your Persona!
Explore your personal characteristics in a fun way.
Myers & Briggs' 16 Personality Types
A quiz to assist with self reflection. Learn about potentially suitable careers and aspects of self development.
OCEAN
Learn about the primary aspects of your personality through a scientifically supported quiz.
Authentic Happiness
Discover your outlook in life and who you are.
Who are you as a person? While these quizzes should not be used scientifically, it is a great opportunity to discover who you are as a person. Learn about yourself and unlock the unknown.
Book Recommendations
Do you ever just want to escape the world temporarily due to heavy stress? Why not read a book?
The University of Sussex has estimated reading can reduce up to 68% of stress. Here are some of our favorites! :)
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl: A magical adventure celebrating friendship, resilience, and self-discovery.
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon: A courageous journey blending Chinese folklore with themes of hope and perseverance.
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng: A novel about family secrets, cultural identity, and mental health, centered on a tragic loss. Recommended age: 15+
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: An inspiring memoir of a young boy from Malawi who, despite hardships, builds a windmill and transforms his community through perseverance and innovation.
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry A timeless tale of hope, love, and childhood wisdom.
![[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson:
This epic narrative chronicles the Great Migration, detailing the journey of African Americans who moved from the South to the North in search of a better life.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/4be48629-4949-462c-8cd4-f4f7e412e3bb/warmth.jpg)
[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wilkerson: This epic narrative chronicles the Great Migration, detailing the journey of African Americans who moved from the South to the North in search of a better life.
![[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois:
A seminal work in African American literature, this collection of essays explores the multifaceted experiences of Black Americans in the early 20th century.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/71071bac-7d8a-41f9-9c56-5ff6750044a1/41ayjlQCh2L._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois: A seminal work in African American literature, this collection of essays explores the multifaceted experiences of Black Americans in the early 20th century.
![[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson:
This book examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America, linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/909036a2-40a4-424d-8606-a6c04f8bf6c9/51weHkSydYL._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson: This book examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America, linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany.
![[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin:
Comprising two essays, this work offers a powerful reflection on race relations in America during the 1960s.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/6d1bb66f-6501-49f5-afa8-fe4295b3c529/41sdRldNlEL._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin: Comprising two essays, this work offers a powerful reflection on race relations in America during the 1960s.
![[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates:
Written as a letter to his teenage son, Coates shares his personal experiences and insights on what it means to be Black in America.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/2e954bf1-47fc-4004-b56e-7c7c46587050/51eaNfMZTqL._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
[BLACK HISTORY MONTH ✊🏿]"Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates: Written as a letter to his teenage son, Coates shares his personal experiences and insights on what it means to be Black in America.
![[VALENTINES 💖]"By the Book" by Jasmine Guillory:
A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," this romance features a young woman helping a reclusive author finish his manuscript, leading to unexpected feelings.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/0aa20e41-b19d-432f-abe4-b439c68040a4/1368053386-678x1024.jpg)
[VALENTINES 💖]"By the Book" by Jasmine Guillory: A modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," this romance features a young woman helping a reclusive author finish his manuscript, leading to unexpected feelings.
![[VALENTINES 💖]"Funny Story" by Emily Henry:
After their partners leave them for each other, two individuals become unexpected roommates and concoct a fake dating scheme to attend their exes' wedding.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/6f6d462f-8494-435f-b628-43fbb4ffea10/41DbIcDo2QL._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
[VALENTINES 💖]"Funny Story" by Emily Henry: After their partners leave them for each other, two individuals become unexpected roommates and concoct a fake dating scheme to attend their exes' wedding.
![[VALENTINES 💖]"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid:
A reclusive Hollywood icon recounts her glamorous and scandalous life, revealing a great forbidden love.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/b8322a6d-d614-4197-81c7-fc720c4725c1/41CPnkPQ6dL._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
[VALENTINES 💖]"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" by Taylor Jenkins Reid: A reclusive Hollywood icon recounts her glamorous and scandalous life, revealing a great forbidden love.
![[VALENTINES 💖]"The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger:
A unique love story about a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably and the woman who loves him throughout his journeys.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/95f91f2c-dfce-4325-ae2d-d6f6d1411e9f/41lb5Sc70UL._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
[VALENTINES 💖]"The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger: A unique love story about a man with a genetic disorder that causes him to time travel unpredictably and the woman who loves him throughout his journeys.
![[VALENTINES 💖] "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen:
This classic novel explores the themes of love and social standing through the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffdf49e3d30d07ea498ac3b/a15241bb-9b73-4c97-a7b3-ae2ec337e50d/21164%2BrhPSL._SY445_SX342_.jpg)
[VALENTINES 💖] "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen: This classic novel explores the themes of love and social standing through the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.
Film Center
Did you know that films actually benefit us?
Journal of Clinical Psychology claims 70-80% of people feel way better after watching a film that resonates with them and what they’re going through!
We like to call these comfort shows, we all have one. What’s yours? If you don’t have one, why not pick one?
Finding Nemo (2003): This Pixar film follows a clownfish named Marlin as he searches for his captured son, Nemo, highlighting themes of parental love, perseverance, and friendship.
My Neighbor Totoro (1988): This Studio Ghibli film tells the heartwarming story of two sisters who move to the countryside and befriend magical creatures, celebrating family and nature's healing power.
Wonder (2017): This film highlights themes of acceptance and kindness as a young boy with facial differences starts at a mainstream school.
A Beautiful Mind (2001): This biographical drama chronicles John Nash’s struggles with schizophrenia and his groundbreaking achievements in mathematics, culminating in a Nobel Prize win.
Inside Out (2015): This Pixar film personifies the emotions Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust inside a young girl’s mind as she navigates a major life change.
Creative Outlets
Let your imagination shine.
Sometimes it may be difficult to put how you are feeling into words alone. By being creative, you are able to express yourself freely. Click on the image below to be given a tutorial!
Send artwork or a message away with a balloon
Starting a group mural
Collaging activity
Creating a dream catcher
DIY stress ball
Easy chocolate fondant cake recipe
Easy biscuit recipe
Writing prompts
Coloring pages
Origami paper stars
Sleep, mediate, or relax
Be your own light!
Below, the art team has wholeheartedly designed motivational wallpaper that is both stylish and positive. Feel free to download any of these!!
Support System
Local Therapists
Your life matters. The google form provides you with a huge database of therapist contacts. We have also included if they offer a sliding scale fee. Please reach out to a professional if necessary. We plan on continuing to add more information!
Teen Line
Teen Line provides support for teens like you who may be struggling with anything from a fight with a friend to thoughts of suicide.
Contact them anonymously and talk it out with a trained teen who will listen without judgement and provide resources to help. We get it.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. Crisis Text Line is here for any crisis. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from our secure online platform. The volunteer Crisis Counselor will help you move from a hot moment to a cool moment.
7 Cups
7 Cups is an online mental health platform that provides emotional support and therapy services. the services can be accessed through websites and apps while remaining anonymous. They also provide communities so they can bond with individuals going through the same adversity.
Mental Health Association of San Francisco
The Mental Health Association of San Francisco (MHASF) offers a "Warm Line" that provides free, confidential emotional support and mental health assistance to individuals who need someone to talk to. Unlike a crisis hotline, the Warm Line is intended for those who may not be in immediate danger but are experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness, or other emotional challenges. call or text 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a counselor 24/7.
Know the Signs
"Know the Signs" is a campaign, which encourages people to learn the signs of someone in distress, find the words to offer support, and reach out to connect those at risk with appropriate help. The site offers valuable information on how to identify and respond to suicidal behavior, as well as resources for those who are struggling with their mental health. Additionally, it provides access to local crisis centers and hotlines, helping users find immediate assistance.