AUSTIN, Texas — City leaders are aware of the mental health crisis that has overtaken the nation. As depression, trauma and suicidality among youth escalate, a national state of emergency has been declared. The City of Austin has noticed the rise of mental health crises in its own backyard and has started a new campaign that puts children and teens at the center of the conversation.

“Ask, Listen, Talk, Repeat” is the new mental health public awareness campaign for children and teens launched by Austin Public Health (APH) and Integral Care. Its goal is to provide parents and guardians with the tools and resources needed to manage conversations regarding mental health.

According to mental health data in Austin-Travis County, in five years there’s been a 65% increase in suicide deaths among children and youth. In 2022, Travis County children and youth visited emergency departments a total 40,254 times with mental, behavioral or emotional issues.  

The pandemic has had an effect on us all, and for children, even more so in some instances. Socialization is known to be such a big factor for youth’s mental development, so without it, many internal problems can arise.

“In the last few years, our children’s mental health has been besieged by several factors from losing time with friends due to the pandemic to the rise in usage of social media,” said Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County health authority. “Let’s start our response with simple conversations. Take the time to talk with your kids about how they are feeling and pay attention to changes in behavior.” 

Thirty-three people aged 24 and younger died by suicide in 2022, according to Austin-Travis County data.

“Mental health matters for all ages. By nurturing self-awareness early, we can help our children and teens support their mental well-being into adulthood,” said David Evans, chief executive officer at Integral Care. “This campaign offers tools to have open, honest conversations about mental health — so conversations about our feelings are as common as talking about other aspects of our lives.” 

The campaign wants to banish the associated stigma that comes with talking about mental health and normalize those conversations. This would open up the floor for more discussions to be had, as it’d be conducive to a safer environment for that kind of vulnerability. The biggest takeaway from this campaign is the importance of children’s mental health and how necessary it is for kids to express their emotions.

According to the City of Austin, “Nationally, studies have shown that 1 in 6 children in the United States experience a mental health disorder and that nearly 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by the age of 14.”

By accessing the campaign’s website, AskListenTalk.org, parents and caregivers will learn the following:

  • How to spot a mental health issue
  • How to start the conversation
  • How to support your own mental health and how to get help throughout Austin and Travis County

“Mental health is a crucial part of our well-being and it’s important that we treat it as such. We also must recognize that we have a role in affecting each other’s mental health,” said District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison. “Take some time to check in on yourself and your loved ones, especially our children.”