Middle school and high school can be some of the most stressful times of life. Between the pressures of school, social life, and other activities, teens have a huge amount on their minds, at all times. Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide and rates have increased over the past decade. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people, with up to 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. having a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorder. Additionally, from 2009 to 2019, the share of high school students who reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40%, to more than 1 in 3 students. Suicidal behaviors among high school students also increased during the decade preceding COVID, with 19% seriously considering attempting suicide, a 36% increase from 2009 to 2019, and about 16% having made a suicide plan in the prior year, a 44% increase from 2009 to 2019. Between 2007 and 2018, suicide rates among youth ages 10-24 in the U.S. increased by 57%, and early estimates show more than 6,600 suicide deaths among this age group in 2020.
 Recognizing the need for improved resiliency in youth, Bullitt County 4-H program partnered with the Bullitt County Public schools during the summer program and provided a mindfulness training to 64 youth in a day camp setting. Youth learned how to categorize their stressors into things they cannot
 change and things they can. They learned appropriate stress reduction techniques, coping strategies, mindfulness activities and physical activities for stress reduction. Youth were educated on when feeling depressed or having bad thoughts to address their concerns with adults. Currently during the 2022-2023 school year Bullitt 4-H is reaching out to elementary students and we plan to grow the program and organize a day with the youth who participate in the Mindfulness program to come to our office for a day of outdoor activities so they can build on their resiliency skills.