How MDYoungMinds Works
MD Young Minds is a text message program that connects teens and adolescents with supportive texts. They focus on adolescent concerns and worries. It’s a program designed by the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Suicide Prevention, and utilizes 211 Maryland’s texting platform.
In Maryland, one in five teens considered attempting suicide in the last year, according to the 2021 Maryland Youth Pandemic Behavior Survey.
The ongoing messages also remind youth that immediate mental health support is always available through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can call or text 988. Learn about 988 in Maryland, a Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration program.
MDYoungMinds is an extension of MDMindHealth/MDSaludMental, which provides English and Spanish text messages for adults.
Sign up by texting MDYoungMinds to 898-211.
211 Maryland offers text message alert programs which provide region-specific resource information or provide disaster alerts. Text STOP to the same number to unsubscribe. Full SMS terms at https://211md.org/sms/ will also apply.
Maryland Youth Pandemic Behavior Survey
The Maryland Youth Pandemic Behavior Survey infographic highlights some of the areas of concern for students and the ways they coped during the pandemic.
Some of the findings include that nearly three in five high school students struggled with their mental health in the last year. 36% felt sad or hopeless every day for two weeks in a row.
Another 28% lived with someone who was depressed, mentally ill or suicidal.
Know the warning signs of a mental health concern in a teen or young adult, and connect with a Maryland program that can help.
We all have mental health. Teens, get supportive text messages. Text MDYoungMinds to 898-211.
