The teenagers of the Westwood Teens Leading Change (TLC) are a passionate group of middle and high school students dedicated to making a difference by empowering teenagers to take the lead in creating positive changes, fostering resilience, and supporting mental well-being among peers. The teenagers' focus on teen mental health aims to help the community understand their feelings, thoughts, and connections with others, with education about common mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders at the core of their efforts. Given that approximately 1 in 5 adolescents in the United States experiences a mental health disorder each year, proactive and supportive measures are crucial. Teen mental health issues stem from multifaceted causes such as academic pressure, social media influence, family dynamics, and hormonal changes, leading to significant stress and mental well-being challenges.
In response to these challenges, the Westwood TLC has implemented a series of events to provide safe spaces for teens to learn and practice healthy coping mechanisms. These events include a canvas painting event for creative, emotional expression, a relaxing sound bath session, a guided meditation hour for stress relief, and a teen mental health workshop offering valuable tips and strategies. Through these initiatives, the teenagers at Westwood TLC have fostered solidarity and understanding among peers, established a mental health tips bulletin board at the Westwood library, and planned future workshops to support the community's mental well-being further.
—Written by Antonio Chow
Antonio is a teen volunteer and Westwood Teens Leading Change project member. Antonio is a student at the Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES).
—Ruth Chung, Young Adult Librarian, Westwood Branch Library.
The Teens Leading Change initiative has funded and launched 52 projects across 60 branches with over 600 participants, including 9 projects across 10 branches that are happening now! Go to lapl.org/teens/tlc for more information.