Free Your Feels

Summer can be a time to rest and recharge, but it can also bring changes in routine, social isolation, and added stress for many students.

This article from Charlie Health highlights how disrupted schedules, reduced support systems, and increased loneliness during summer months can impact youth mental health. It also shares ways families and communities can help young people stay connected, supported, and emotionally well throughout the summer.

Read more:

How Summer Affects Student Mental Health | Charlie Health Click here to see data on how summer affects student mental health, including the toll that crime rates and food insecurity take on students during summertime.

Summer break can bring freedom and fun — but for many young people, it can also bring stress, isolation, disrupted routines, and increased screen time.

A recent survey from the Kids Mental Health Foundation found that many parents remain just as concerned about their child’s mental health during summer as they are during the school year. Creating routines, encouraging connection, prioritizing rest, and checking in with young people can make a meaningful difference this summer. ☀️💙

Read more from the Kids Mental Health Foundation:

The Summer Scaries: Survey Reveals Concerns About Kids’ Mental Health Don’t Disappear When School Lets Out The Kids Mental Health Foundation’s latest survey shows half of parents are concerned about their children’s mental health over summer break. Learn how free tools from KMHF can help reduce screen time, boredom, and disrupted routines.

We are currently finalizing our 5-Year Impact Report and look forward to sharing it with community members like you (those who have made this milestone possible).

Bringing Free Your Feels into community spaces, professional forums, and organizational planning has allowed us to build meaningful partnerships and connections that expand our reach to young people across the state. And we’re just getting started.

As we reflect on our 5 years as a campaign and take a deeper look at our historical data, we’re reminded that these community-based efforts would not be possible without you. Thank you for welcoming us into your communities, safe spaces, and developmental settings. We’re excited to continue growing our partnerships, collaborating on new resources, and supporting young people throughout Georgia.

Schools, afterschool programs, and community spaces are critical environments for youth mental health support. Trusted adults can help normalize emotional expression and connect young people to resources through simple, visible actions.

Consider creating a calming corner or wellness space that supports emotional regulation, reflection, and stress reduction. Prioritize partnering with youth as co-designers of the space. This FYF one-pager includes ideas for materials, layout, and how to introduce the space to youth in a supportive way.

https://www.freeyourfeels.org/_files/ugd/a57563_36bc07221d5940a2b07406101363d3a8.pdf

Caregivers play a powerful role in shaping how young people understand emotions, cope with stress, and reach out for help. Having regular, open conversations about mental health can strengthen trust.

Strong4Life offers research-based tools for caregivers to support children’s mental and emotional health. Topics include managing stress and big emotions, building healthy routines, supporting behavior at different developmental stages, and strengthening parent–child communication.

Parenting | Strong4Life At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, our mission is to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow. Strong4Life is one of the many ways we deliver on that promise. Armed with a team of Children’s doctors, therapists, nurses, registered dietitians and other wellness experts, Strong4Life has res...

With summer quickly approaching, Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP) is excited to share a great opportunity for youth across Georgia. Beginning Monday, May 18th, GCAPP will launch a Statewide Teen Health Challenge—a week-long initiative dedicated to supporting the holistic well-being of teens.

This challenge is designed to be a fun and engaging way for students to focus on their overall health while building positive habits. Through daily participation, teens across Georgia will have the opportunity to engage in a shared experience centered on personal growth, wellness, and community connection.

How the Challenge Works:

• Comprehensive Wellness: Each day from May 18–24, participants will complete a “Daily Challenge” focused on a different aspect of health and wellness.

• Statewide Participation: Teens from across Georgia are encouraged to join and take part in this collective wellness initiative.

• Grand Prize Raffle: Every completed daily challenge counts as an entry into a large raffle—meaning the more challenges completed, the more chances participants have to win.

The First Step: Registration

To receive daily updates and be eligible for the raffle, teens must register before the challenge begins on May 18th.

Challenge Registration Link: https://www.tfaforms.com/5219766

SAMHSA offers an annual Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit. This toolkit can help spread awareness about the importance of mental health and its effects on physical and emotional well-being. Check out 2026's version!

Mental Health Awareness Month Check out what SAMHSA is doing for Mental Health Awareness Month and share our materials, and remember that we all play active roles in caring for our mental health!

Yesterday, we joined GPSN, DBHDD, and partners from across the state in recognizing Children’s Mental Health Day — an annual convening that highlights resources, collaboration, and important conversations happening at the local, regional, and state levels around youth mental health.

Voices for Georgia’s Children led the youth panel discussion, “Letting the Future Speak.” During this powerful conversation, youth from Youth Voice Matters and GUIDE, Inc. shared how authentic youth voice can shape health-related programs (like Free Your Feels!), what meaningful youth-adult collaboration looks like, and how adults can better support young people through connection, trust, and action.

These conversations matter. Creating space for youth voices, experiences, and leadership is how we continue to speak. connect. listen. 💚

Photo Credit: Youth Voice Matters

Did you know?:

Green is widely recognized as the color of mental health awareness. Historically, the color was used in harmful and stigmatizing ways to label individuals with mental illness. Over time, advocates within the children’s mental health movement reclaimed green as a symbol of growth and resilience. Today, the green ribbon represents support for mental health, solidarity with those navigating challenges, and a shared commitment to improving access to care and understanding. During Mental Health Month, wearing or displaying green is a visible reminder that mental health is health, and that no one is alone.

Check out our Pinterest for some Green-spiration!

Green-spo for May Mental Health Awareness Month Discover freeyourfeelsga's collection, Green-spo for May Mental Health Awareness Month

Caring for your mental health is an ongoing practice. Taking time to check in with yourself -- emotionally, physically, and mentally -- can help you recognize stress early and build self-care habits. Small - and consistent - actions can make a meaningful difference.

Mental Health America offers a 2026 Mental Health Month Planning Guide full of activities, ready-to-use communication tools, and more! Check it out here:

2026 Mental Health Month Action Guide | Mental Health America In a world that can feel overwhelming or uncertain, many factors affecting our health are beyond our control. While we can’t change everything, paying attention to what we can influence can make a difference. There’s no right or wrong way to use this guide. Start where it feels helpful, skip wha...