Help your teen take charge of their mental health with a free, safe, and interactive platform of evidence-based mini courses they can complete on their own.
Here you’ll find conversation starters, tips for guiding your teen, and even a demo to help you explore the platform yourself.
What we mean when we say “mental health”
You’ve probably heard the term mental health a lot lately, but it can mean different things to different people.
Being a teenager isn’t easy, and caring for their mental health is really about supporting their emotional wellbeing just as much as their physical health.
Project YES offers activities that help teens build healthy coping skills, manage stress, and strengthen their sense of self. It’s not a diagnostic program, but rather a space for practical, solution-focused support.
Project YES is a free, anonymous set of online mental health mini courses designed with Montana youth, for Montana youth. Each mini course takes just ten to fifteen minutes and works on any device with internet.
These short, self-guided mini courses help teens feel more hopeful and confident by teaching skills they can use right away. Many also guide them in creating a personal action plan that they can use to face their problems in daily life.
Starting a conversation with your teen about any thoughts or behaviors that might worry you can be difficult, especially with busy schedules. The key is to keep it simple: pick a calm moment, listen with an open mind, and let your teen know it’s safe to share both the good and the hard stuff.
If you’re worried your teen may be struggling with their mood, check out resources from the Facts for Families Guide and SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)’s Parent support resources.
Supporting your teens’ emotional wellbeing works best when it’s a family effort. When parents/guardians, grandparents, and other relatives show emotional support, teens feel less alone, and are more likely to use tools like Project YES. Sharing this website with family members also makes it easier for them to recommend this resource.
At the same time, teens need space to make their own choices. Letting them decide when and how to use Project YES builds confidence and gives them ownership of their growth. The right balance is family support plus independence.
This guide includes:
Sometimes it can be hard to find the “right” words to say when talking to your teen about their problems, but what matters most is showing your teen that you’re there to listen. Even small questions can open the door:
Pick simple, everyday moments, like driving to school or sitting at the dinner table, when there are fewer distractions and conversations feel more natural. Here are some quick ways to introduce Project YES:
Try the demo yourself first, then casually mention, “I found this short activity teens are using in Montana; it only takes about 5-10 minutes. Want to check it out?”
If your teen talks about stress with school, friends, or sports, you might say: “There's mini courses that helps teens figure out their own game plan for stress, want to see if it can help you?”
“It’s private, and you don’t have to share with me unless you want to. You get to decide how to use it.”
Share that teens across Montana helped designed Project YES: “Other teens your age tested this out to make sure it feels real and useful.”
You know your teen best, and which approach they would prefer. Although Project YES is not a replacement for therapy or longer-term care, our research has shown that when teens use Project YES it can increase motivation to seek further mental health support if needed. If you would like more suggestions on how to start the conversation about mental health follow the you can check out Adult to Teen Support: Navigating Conversations Around Mental Health and for Project YES tips check out these ready-to-use text examples:
Red Flags to Watch For
Project YES is not a substitute for therapy or longer-term care. Even if your teen uses Project YES; sometimes they’ll need extra support. It’s not always easy to know when to offer extra care, but paying attention to changes in mood, behavior, or daily routines can give you clues.
Your teen may experience normal changes in their moods and behaviors, (after all, teens will be teens) but it’s important to know when it’s time to help them seek support! Here are some resources that have specific red flags that can signal your teen may be struggling.
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Supporting your teen starts with taking care of yourself. Parenting can be stressful, especially here in Montana, where long drives and longer waitlists can make finding support feel like an uphill climb.
The good news? You don’t have to do it alone. Small steps matter: calling a friend, making time for rest, or just getting outside under the Big Sky can make a real difference.
When you take steps to support yourself, your teen learns it’s okay to do the same.
For additional support, check out:
Sometimes teens need more help than Project YES alone can give. Here are some additional resources you can count on:
To keep these numbers handy, print out our Project YES resource card or tuck one into your teen’s backpack, glove box, or wallet. That way, help is just one step away:
Download Resources Card
We only collect what is needed for the activities. This may include open-ended responses, like how your teen is feeling or activities and hobbies your teen enjoys. No personally identifying information, like names, addresses, or contact information, is collected.
No. To protect their privacy, your teens’ responses in the mini courses are not shared with parents. But you can always ask your teen what they have learned; many parents find that opens the door for good conversations. Check out some of the ways you can do this with your teen.
Never. All Project YES data is 100% anonymous. This means our team won’t be able to connect your teens’ answers to them, reliably blocking any collection or sale of private data.
We ask some questions before, during, and after our activities. Your teens’ answers to these questions will help us understand how Project YES is working, and how we can improve the website for other teens. That information is not traceable back to your teen or sold in any way.
No. Project YES is a free, self-guided resource, which should not be used as a replacement for therapy or other mental health professional care. Think of it as a boost of support your teen can use anytime, anywhere – especially when more “traditional” care is not readily available.
If your teen is experiencing a crisis, call or text 988 right away. For local resources, dial 211 or use our printable Montana resource card so these numbers are always on hand.
Check the official Project YES site, or contact our team that is working with Frontier Psychiatry.
Yes! Teens can try more than one mini course. Each one focuses on different skills, like improving body image, boosting confidence and self-esteem, self-harm, suicide safety planning, or setting goals, so your teen can pick what fits best.
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