Globally, today's adolescents are facing many forms of stress and skyrocketing mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, substance abuse, and trauma. Sources of stress for students include family, school, society, and relationships. Furthermore, the impact of the pandemic on adolescent mental health was significant.

According to new CDC data from its Youth Risk Behavior Survey released in February 2023, youth mental health continues to worsen. One of the many alarming findings of the survey is that 42% of high schools students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021, up from an already high number of 28% in 2011. Furthermore, 57% of teen girls felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021 alone, representing a 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade. “Young people are experiencing a level of distress that calls on us to act with urgency and compassion,” (Kathleen Ethier, Ph.D., CDC Division of Adolescent  and School Health Director  (2023).  

There is no time to waste. To help schools help adolescents, Kindfulteens offers an effective, evidence-based, social and emotional learning curriculum delivered through yoga and mindfulness. Our purpose is to partner with schools or community centers to help teens become self-aware, self-compassionate, self-confident, and resilient, and to teach skills to manage stress, reduce anxiety and depression, manage emotions, improve decision making, and develop healthy relationships. We also strive to create a safe and supportive community, where teens can be themselves, relax, and feel empowered.