Why young people are turning to peers for mental health support Allie Mason for OK Today Sep 29, 2026 Sep 29, 2026 Updated 1 hr ago 0 A woman showing support to her friend who is crying. Miljan Zivkovic // Shutterstock Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Allie Mason for OK Today kAm(96? J@F?8 A6@A=6 ?665 DFAA@CE H:E9 E96:C >6?E2= 962=E9[ >2?J 7:CDE EFC? E@ 2 A66C]k^AmkAmp a_ae k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]F94]4@>^4@?E6?E^52>^F945@E4@>^6?^w62=E9p?5(6==?6DD^!su^&wr\*@F?8\p5F=E\2?5\r@==686\$EF56?E\qw\#6A@CE]A57Qm&?:E65w62=E942C6 DFCG6J @7 >@C6 E92? a[___ &]$] 4@==686 DEF56?ED 2?5 J@F?8 25F=EDk^2m 7@F?5 E92E cfT H@F=5 E2=< E@ 2 7C:6?5 7:CDE 23@FE 2 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?46C?[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 abT H9@V5 D66< @FE 2 ECFDE65 25F=E] *6E 52E2 2=D@ D9@H E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FE9>6?E2=962=E94@2=:E:@?]@C8^>65:2^dh`^7:=6^v6?K\8=@32=\C6A@CE\t}]A57QmA66CD 2C6 ?@E AC6A2C65 E@ E2=< 23@FE >6?E2= 962=E9k^2m 2E D49@@= @C H@C<] %92E >62?D C@@>>2E6D[ 4=2DD>2E6D[ E62>>2E6D 2?5 4@H@C<6CD >2J 7:?5 E96>D6=G6D :? 4@?G6CD2E:@?D E96J 2C6?VE AC6A2C65 E@ ?2G:82E6]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth enrollment report shows elementary school is home to most students Smyth schools receive about $9.4M in grants for projects at CHS, MSHS Virginia Voices: Lieutenant Governor gets to know Wytheville 1,374 pages: Smyth School Board receives study of school buildings' needs Food City's investment in new Marion store exceeds $15M Despite opposition, concerns about rights, Marion council adopts loitering ordinance Monarch Watch: Citizen scientists tag, launch monarchs to join migration to Mexico Feels Like Home: Lewis' Country Store prepares to open in Chilhowie Chilhowie Apple Festival to celebrate USA's 250th Smyth, Wythe TRIAD chapters win grants to continue helping senior citizens 7 Smyth schools to benefit from security funding A look at Smyth board's OK of data center zoning regs Rain, wind, and resilience: Hokies rally to win messy game at Boston College Grayson Highlands State Park hosts Fall Festival Sept. 26-27 Pribula, Flores and Courtney lead Virginia football in blowout win over Delaware kAm%96 7:?5:?8 C67=64ED 8C@H:?8 :?E6C6DE :? A66C DFAA@CE 2D 2 4C:E:42= A2CE @7 E96 C6DA@?D6 E@ J@F?8 25F=EDV >6?E2= 962=E9 ?665D[ 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@<E@52J]@C8Qm~z %@52Jk^2m C6A@CED] !66C DFAA@CE 42? 368:? H:E9 2? 6G6CJ52J 4@?G6CD2E:@?i =:DE6?:?8 H:E9@FE ;F58>6?E[ C6DA@?5:?8 H:E9 42C6 2?5 96=A:?8 2 7C:6?5 766= =6DD 2=@?6]k^AmkAm#@F89=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9@]:?E^AF3=:42E:@?D^:^:E6>^hfghac_``bg`fQm@?6 :? D6G6? A6@A=6 H@C=5H:56 :D =:G:?8 H:E9 2 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?5:E:@?k^2m[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 (@C=5 w62=E9 ~C82?:K2E:@?] p?5 H9:=6 >6?E2= 962=E9 C6D@FC46D 6I:DE[ 2 8=@32= DFCG6J @7 >@C6 E92? d[e__ A6@A=6 286D `c E@ ad 7@F?5 E92E @?=J 92=7 <?6H H96C6 E@ 7:?5 C6D@FC46D E@ DFAA@CE E96:C >6?E2= 962=E9] u@CEJ A6C46?E 2=D@ C6A@CE65 4@?E:?F:?8 DE:8>2 2C@F?5 5:D4FDD:?8 >6?E2= 962=E9 2E D49@@= @C H@C<[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]F?:467]@C8^A2CE?6CD9:AD^>6?E2=\962=E9\DEF5J\D9@HD\86?\K\@G6CH96=>65\F?56E6CC65\F?C6=6?E:?8\8=@32=\4C:D6DQm&}xrtu\=65 v=@32= r@2=:E:@? 7@C *@FE9 |6?E2= w62=E9]k^2mk^Am k9bm%96 8C@H:?8 C@=6 @7 A66C DFAA@CEk^9bmkAmp k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^AF3>65]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^c_dehbdb^Qma_ad C6G:6H @7 ba DEF5:6Dk^2m 7@F?5 AC@>:D:?8 6G:56?46 E92E A66C DFAA@CE 42? DEC6?8E96? 4@??64E:@? 2?5 96=A J@F?8 A6@A=6 ?2G:82E6 >6?E2= 962=E9 492==6?86D[ 2=E9@F89 C6DF=ED G2C:65 24C@DD AC@8C2>D 2?5 A@AF=2E:@?D] #6D62C496CD ?@E65 E92E >@C6 DEF5J :D ?66565 E@ F?56CDE2?5 H9:49 2AAC@2496D 2C6 >@DE 67764E:G6 2?5 F?56C H92E 4:C4F>DE2?46D]k^AmkAm!66C DFAA@CE :D ?@E 2 C6A=246>6?E 7@C AC@76DD:@?2= >6?E2= 962=E9 42C6] x?DE625[ :E 42? 4@>A=6>6?E 7@C>2= D6CG:46D 3J 96=A:?8 J@F?8 A6@A=6 766= =6DD 2=@?6[ C64@8?:K6 H96? 255:E:@?2= DFAA@CE >2J 36 ?66565 2?5 4@??64E H:E9 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6D@FC46D]k^Am kAmpD 2 C6DF=E[ :?G6DE>6?E :? DECF4EFC65 A66C\DFAA@CE 2AAC@2496D :D 8C@H:?8] x? yF=J a_ae[ z2:D6C !6C>2?6?E6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^23@FE]<2:D6CA6C>2?6?E6]@C8^?6HD^AC6DD\C6=62D6\2C49:G6^<2:D6C\A6C>2?6?E6\:?G6DED\`_\>:==:@?\E@\6IA2?5\J@FE9\>6?E2=\962=E9\A66C\DFAA@CEQm4@>>:EE65 S`_ >:==:@?k^2m E@ 6IA2?5 E96 *@FE9 |6?E2= w62=E9 r@CAD[ H9:49 EC2:?D J@F?8 A6@A=6 E@ AC@G:56 ?@?4=:?:42= DFAA@CE 2?5 96=A E66?286CD ?2G:82E6 2G2:=23=6 C6D@FC46D] %96 :?:E:2E:G6 92D EC2:?65 2?5 A=2465 ?62C=J `[___ >6>36CD 2?5 C624965 >@C6 E92? cc[___ E66?286CD 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ >6>36CD D:?46 a_ac]k^Amk9bms6D:8?:?8 C6D@FC46D 3J J@F?8 A6@A=6 7@C J@F?8 A6@A=6k^9bm kAm*@F?8 A6@A=6 2C6 2=D@ A=2J:?8 2 =2C86C C@=6 :? 56D:8?:?8 E96 C6D@FC46D >62?E 7@C E96>] p k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=D]D286AF3]4@>^5@:^`_]``ff^`bdh`_cdae`ced_chQma_ae C6G:6H @7 dg J@FE9 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@\56D:8? DEF5:6Dk^2m 24C@DD `h 4@F?EC:6D 7@F?5 2 D92CA C:D6 :? E9:D <:?5 @7 4@==23@C2E:@? D:?46 a_`h] $EF5:6D E92E 6G2=F2E65 E96 4@\56D:8? AC@46DD C6A@CE65 DEC@?8 J@FE9 6?8286>6?E 2?5 8C62E6C FD23:=:EJ 2?5 C6=6G2?46] w@H6G6C[ >@DE H6C6 4@?5F4E65 :? 9:89\:?4@>6[ t?8=:D9\DA62<:?8 4@F?EC:6D[ =62G:?8 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE 9@H H6== E9@D6 7:?5:?8D EC2?D=2E6 24C@DD 4F=EFC6D 2?5 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am kAm!66C DFAA@CE H:== ?@E C6A=246 AC@76DD:@?2= >6?E2= 962=E9 42C6[ ?@C D9@F=5 J@F?8 A6@A=6 36 6IA64E65 E@ 92G6 2== E96 2?DH6CD] qFE H96? E96J 92G6 E96 E@@=D E@ =:DE6? H:E9@FE ;F58>6?E[ C64@8?:K6 E96:C =:>:ED 2?5 6?4@FC286 2 7C:6?5 E@ E2=< H:E9 D@>6@?6 E96J ECFDE[ 6G6CJ52J 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 42? 96=A E92E 7C:6?5 766= 962C5 2?5 DFAA@CE65]k^Am kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@<E@52J]@C8^H9J\J@F?8\A6@A=6\2C6\EFC?:?8\E@\A66CD\7@C\>6?E2=\962=E9\DFAA@CE^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@<E@52J]@C8^Qmk6>m~z %@52Jk^6>mk^2mk6>m[ 2? :?:E:2E:G6 @7 v=@32= v2E6H2J p5G:D@CD u@F?52E:@?[ 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am 0 Comments Originally published on oktoday.org, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular 1 in 5 people may have this hidden genetic stroke risk Hone Health reports that lipoprotein(a) testing, often overlooked, reveals hidden cardiovascular risks and that 1 in 5 people has elevated lev… 5 questions about menopause you might be too embarrassed to ask IvÃm Health reports on five common menopause questions women often feel embarrassed to ask, addressing symptoms like weight gain, mood changes… 'Accutane cream' is the new topical option patients are asking for Honeydew reports a new topical formulation of Accutane, promising fewer side effects for mild-to-moderate acne, but oral isotretinoin remains … How to cope after losing someone to suicide Talkspace reports that coping with suicide grief is intense and unique. Key steps include allowing emotions, seeking support, and practicing s… Survey: 58% of Americans have skipped or rationed meds in the past year TelyRx reports that a survey reveals 58% of U.S. adults on regular medication have run out of or rationed doses, risking serious health consequences.
1 in 5 people may have this hidden genetic stroke risk Hone Health reports that lipoprotein(a) testing, often overlooked, reveals hidden cardiovascular risks and that 1 in 5 people has elevated lev…
5 questions about menopause you might be too embarrassed to ask IvÃm Health reports on five common menopause questions women often feel embarrassed to ask, addressing symptoms like weight gain, mood changes…
'Accutane cream' is the new topical option patients are asking for Honeydew reports a new topical formulation of Accutane, promising fewer side effects for mild-to-moderate acne, but oral isotretinoin remains …
How to cope after losing someone to suicide Talkspace reports that coping with suicide grief is intense and unique. Key steps include allowing emotions, seeking support, and practicing s…
Survey: 58% of Americans have skipped or rationed meds in the past year TelyRx reports that a survey reveals 58% of U.S. adults on regular medication have run out of or rationed doses, risking serious health consequences.