Teenagers often experience feelings of helplessness and crises. Apps have been developed to ensure that teens won't end up in unhealthy or dangerous situations when they experience crises.
How Apps Help Teenagers
After School and Crisis Text Line are some of those apps that support at-risk teenagers, and they are working together for this endeavor. By texting 741741, Crisis Text Line can provide teens with 24/7 support.
After School serves as a private message board of a school where students can anonymously share posts with their peers. The app also recognizes whenever a teen posts potential crises, and then sends a pop-up about how Crisis Text Line can help them with their situation.
Thanks to After School, more than 70,000 students have been referred to Crisis Text Line and other text crisis counselors, The Huffington Post reported. Cory Levy, one of After School's founders, said the app's goal is to unleash teenagers' real and honest selves, a contrast to Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms where young people curate a "customized" image, according to The Washington Post.
There are the issues that teenagers most struggle with, as reported by The Huffington Post from Crisis Text Line. Other apps that can improve teenagers' mental health are CodeBlue, Mood 24/7, and Lantern.
1. Romance/Relationships
Almost 20 percent of the information distributed by teenagers via After School is about romantic relationships. A study released by the Pew Research Center found that 35 percent of American teens aged 13 to 17 have dated another person, and 18 percent are currently in a romantic relationship.
2. Issues About Friendships
Friendships help teenagers form and develop their identities, but it's also a source of conflicts. Nine percent of the issues After School members discuss are about friendship "drama."
3. Stress And Anxiety
Around 8 percent of messages on After School are about teenagers' stress and anxiety. That includes school issues, family conflicts, and relationship problems.
4. Depression
There are 7.5 percent of After School referrals to Crisis Text Line that are about depression. This condition doesn't stop at feelings of sadness or hopelessness; depression can also push teenagers to commit suicide or self-harm.
5. Family Problems
Family issues comprise 5 percent of After School conversations. It might be about financial problems or just day-to-day disagreements.
6. Suicidal Thoughts
Four percent of messages that the After School app receives are about suicidal thoughts and intentions, which should always be taken seriously. After School's referrals to Crisis Text Line have resulted to successful suicide interventions.
7. Isolation
Teenagers may isolate themselves when their peers bully or exclude them. Over three percent of After School chats are about teenagers feeling isolated.
8. Bullying
Under three percent of After School chats are about bullying. Head to StopBullying.gov on what you can do about this prevalent problem.
9. Self-Harm
Two percent of After School data are about self-harm. That includes cutting or piercing the skin with sharp objects and burning.
10. Bereavement
Only one percent of After School chats are about bereavement over losing a loved one or a person they care about. The American Psychological Association has compiled some tips on how to cope with a loss.
