Supporting Youth Mental
Health
Are You Ready to Love Your Smile?
Supporting our Local Youth
At Orthodontic Associates, we are striving to make a positive impact on the mental health of the youth in our community. Our doctors and team interact with patients and their families every day to help you love your smile. And more importantly, we want you to love yourself and love others. Let’s work together to provide the support, resources, love and kindness that we all need.
Oklahoma Network of Care
Access local providers and resources
Dial 988 to get help now
988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a direct nationwide number for anyone in need.
“The Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health (ODMHSAS) has taken great strides to improve the entire crisis continuum across our state. Whereas previous suicide hotlines were dedicated solely to suicide-related concerns, the 988 Mental Health Lifeline will address any mental health concern, including suicidality. 988 also serves as an access point to the greater Crisis Continuum, including mobile crisis units and transportation for those experiencing mental health concerns that would otherwise be unable to access services,” said Gary Shepherd, Prevention Program, OK State Department.
Get the Facts
Suicide is a public health problem and leading cause of death in the United States. Suicide can also be prevented – more investment in suicide prevention, education, and research will prevent the untimely deaths of thousands of Americans each year.
In Oklahoma, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 10-24. Youth who are contemplating suicide frequently give warning signs. Do not be afraid to ask about suicidal thoughts. Never take warning signs lightly or promise to keep them secret. Recent stats recorded that 71% of communities did not have enough mental health providers to serve residents in 2021, according to federal guidelines and that over five times as many people died by suicide in 2019 than in alcohol related motor vehicle accidents. In Oklahoma alone, there were 869 reported deaths by suicide per 100,000 population.
Bullying Bites
One in five children in America ages 12-18 experiences bullying annually. Of those bullied, teeth was ranked as the number one feature targeted, according to a study published by the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.
At Orthodontic Associates, we are on a mission to make a positive impact on youth mental health in Oklahoma. In an act of solidarity, the American Associates of Orthodontics (AAO), in partnership with Stand for the Silent, and Orthodontic Associates challenges you to take stand against bullying with us.
Heroes in Waiting
Heroes In Waiting exists to ensure the mental wellness of children and to empower them to be peace-builders in a changing world. They do this by equipping kids with anti-bullying and peace-building resources that provide the knowledge and courage to help them become heroes in their own communities and create real, positive change. The Heroes In Waiting free, 12-lesson curriculum goes beyond anti-bullying to incorporate current trauma-informed and research-based best practices to meet children’s core needs of safety and belonging, to help them realize their unique, full potential, and grow into healthy adults. They also provide content and resources for parents and caregivers.
Our Partners
As a local orthodontic practice that has been serving Oklahomans for over three decades, we are dedicated to building lasting and trusted relationships with our community partners. We love being a part of this great state, and as your neighbor, we are always looking for ways to support outreach efforts that serve to make a positive impact on our youth.
Access Helpful Resources
Mental disorders can begin in childhood. Examples include anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, depression and other mood disorders, eating disorders, and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Without treatment, these mental health conditions can prevent children from reaching their full potential. Many adults who seek mental health treatment reflect on the impact of mental disorders on their childhood and wish they had received help sooner.
Established in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of the 27 Institutes and Centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest biomedical research agency in the world. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) is the only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
Included here are some insightful articles that highlight the effects of social media and its impact on mental health and wellness.
StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond to bullying. If you or someone you know is being bullied, there are things you can do to keep yourself and others safe from bullying.
If you or someone you know is involved in cyberbullying, it is important to document and report the behavior.
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide is dedicated to increasing awareness, saving lives and reducing the stigma of suicide through specialized mental health training programs and resources that empower students, parents, schools, and communities with the skills needed to help youth build lives of resiliency.