How to Center Student Voices in Mental Health Reporting

Students, both secondary and postsecondary, are processing an overwhelming abundance of information about complex issues, including social injustice and gun violence, which can lead to anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns. Journalists can cover the youth mental health crisis in a way that helps young people tell their stories.

Panelists at the 2024 EWA National Seminar in Las Vegas shared strategies for journalists and demonstrated some best practices themselves. Student journalists Bree Campbell and James Kim, co-hosts of season four of the podcast “On Our Minds,” interviewed panelists, who included:

• Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer at The Jed Foundation (JED), a nonprofit focused on emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults;
• Areli Rosales, The Jed Foundation 2024 Student Voice of Mental Health Award recipient
• Briget Ganske, lead producer for “On Our Minds,” a podcast on teen mental health produced by PBS NewsHour’s Student Reporting Labs.

Erickson-Schroth established the context for the mental health crisis and cited the Surgeon General’s 2021 report “Protecting Youth Mental Health,” which noted that “the challenges today’s generation of young people face are unprecedented and uniquely hard to navigate.”

Some of the factors that can lead to anxiety and depression, Erickson-Schroth noted, include:

• Racial and social injustice and inequities
• Climate change
• School shootings
• Pandemic-era isolation
• Increased exposure to technology and decreased time with peers

Campbell asked Rosales, who has navigated experiences with depression, anxiety and PTSD, what she has observed about the coverage of teen mental health. Rosales, a sophomore at The University of Texas at San Antonio, has these suggestions for journalists covering mental health issues:

• Be aware of language. Avoid phrases like, “the student is depressed,” in favor of “the student experiences depression.”
• Don’t put people in a box. People struggling with their mental health don’t want to be labeled.
• Ask them how they are coping. Students are often eager to share their experiences. Find out what their support systems look like.

All panelists emphasized the importance of seeking out youth voices. While some young people may not be comfortable sharing their stories with journalists, many are. Panelists shared the following tips for finding youth to speak with:

• Leverage social media. Search Instagram and TikTok for hashtags related to mental health. Lots of young people post their own stories, and this can be a way to connect with them.
• Reach out to colleges and universities. Leaders of mental health clubs may be able to connect journalists with club members who are interested in sharing their stories.
• Connect with youth advocacy organizations. This includes those who support LGBTQ youth. These groups may have connections with young people willing to speak with reporters.

After journalists find sources, it’s their responsibility to put those young people at ease. The panel shared some tips to help establish trust with young sources, many of whom may have never been interviewed.

• Let them know what you are writing about. Explain how you will use their story. Make sure they understand if the interview is on the record, and ensure they agree to that.
• Use a “trauma-informed approach.” Make the young person feel safe. Notice their body language. Pause or stop the interview if needed.
• Empower the subject. Ask open-ended questions, and reflect on what you are hearing.
• Focus on their strengths. Reflect on what they have learned through their journey. Tell them what strengths you hear in their story.
• End with: “Is there anything else you really wanted to say?”

Covering mental health requires sensitivity. Erickson-Schroth shared a few resources to help journalists prepare for interviews:

• Follow best practices for reporting on suicide. This website breaks down common mistakes that journalists make and offers tips for what to avoid and the best approaches for covering deaths by suicide.
• Check out the entertainment industry’s mental health media guide to accurately portray mental health challenges. This guide will help writers who are developing podcasts or other longer-form stories about mental health.