In this episode of Good Friends, Strong Families, Angela and Anna talk about one of the hardest conversations families may ever face: suicide prevention.

Rather than trying to turn parents into mental health professionals, they focus on the relationships that matter before, during, and after a crisis.

They talk about:

• Whether our kids really believe they can tell us hard things
• How our first reaction can either open or close the door
• Why kids need trusted adults beyond Mom and Dad
• Why parents need their own village too
• How shame can keep families isolated when they most need support
• What good friendship actually looks like when someone you love is walking through something difficult
• Where families can turn for real-time help

This is a conversation about connection, honesty, friendship, and making sure no family feels like they have to navigate the hardest moments alone.

If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or seek emergency care.

For more prevention resources, visit DeltaPrevention.org and follow Delta Prevention on Facebook.

Forty percent of high school students report persistent sadness or hopelessness, and that word persistent should stop all of us in our tracks. We keep raising awareness about teen mental health, but the numbers don’t magically improve, so we want to talk about the next step: prevention skills that actually live inside a family’s day-to-day life.

We start by defining mental health using the CDC framework: emotional, psychological, and social well-being that affects how we think, feel, relate to others, handle stress, and make decisions. Then we simplify it into four trainable areas you can practice at home: thinking, feeling, relating, and functioning. Along the way, we share protective factors backed by prevention science and programs like the Strengthening Families Program, including strong relationships, clear expectations, and knowing what’s going on in your kids’ lives.

You’ll hear practical coaching language for “automatic negative thoughts” (ANTS), plus simple prompts to help kids problem-solve instead of spiraling. We also dig into emotional regulation as a skill that’s taught when things are calm and practiced when they’re not, with coping options that work in real settings like classrooms and friend groups. For connection, we talk “my time,” putting your phone down when your kid wants to talk, and helping them identify trusted adults beyond you. Finally, we unpack resilience and functioning: how to help kids get through stress, disappointment, and setbacks without shutting down.

If you want a clearer, doable approach to parenting for teen mental health, listen now, then subscribe, share with another parent, and leave a review. What’s one skill you want to start practicing this week?