Share this: What to do in a crisis toolkit created by youth, for youth
May is Mental Health Awareness month, and right now, we are facing a growing youth mental health crisis. According to the CDC, in 2023, 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year, and 20% seriously considered attempting suicide. The Trevor Project reported that in 2024, that number nearly doubled for LGBTQ+ youth, with 39% sharing that they seriously considered suicide in the past year.
GUTF New Mexico Young Adult Ambassador Jo, wants to change this, and in her first official event repping our org this year, she focused on creating space for youth to build a crisis toolkit.
In February 2026, Jo led a workshop at the Youth Empowerment in Action (YEA) Summit hosted by the NM Department of Health and youth-adult partnership and mental health expert, Dr. Katherine Grill, where teens from across New Mexico came together to build a peer-created guide on how to show up for someone in crisis.
What the toolkit covers:
How to recognize warning signs that someone might be struggling
What supportive conversation actually looks like in real life
What to avoid saying or doing (and why it matters)
When peer support isn't enough, and how to take the next step (when to choose a crisis hotline vs. 911)
How to find safe online spaces for mental health support
How to take care of yourself while supporting someone else
Designed by our Teen Art Director Jaise, this guide with 15 slides was made by young people, for young people, and sized for easy sharing to social media. If you know a friend, a youth organization, or other youth group that could use it, please take a moment to share this important resource with them.
Click here to download the full deck from Canva, or select individual images to download below.
