The “I Got You: Healthy Life Choices for Teens” (IGU) program was created in 2012 by Central Mississippi Residential Center to provide mental health education for students in rural east central Mississippi. Its design was also geared to decreasing behavior-related office discipline referrals in schools and provide general education about mental health and well-being. The expectations at program’s completion were that participants would know how to recognize high risk behavior, understand why it is important to seek help, and become familiar with available resources.
Local schools, mental health organizations, domestic violence shelters, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Mississippi Department of Education have continued to engage with the program. In recent years, the Mississippi State Troopers Association has promoted and assisted in the program’s presentations in various state locations.
IGU has evolved into an intensive day-long intervention modeled after the evidenced-based SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program.
Results
Students complete evaluations/surveys post-participation. Overall, results show:
- Improved self-concept
- Improved awareness of healthy relationships
- Stronger anti-bullying orientations
- Stronger anti-drug dispositions
- Increased willingness to confide in an adult
- Decreased stigmatization of mental illness
- Greater mental health awareness
Participating schools report academic performance improvements, improved student coping schools and decreased behavior-related office referrals.
Previous surveys revealed:
- 95% of students believed the program would make a difference in their lives
- 79% of students reported they “learned a lot” from the program
Challenges
Initial challenges this program faced included:
- Initial lack of space to accommodate students
- Securing the evaluation component
- Speaker availability
Current barriers:
- Funding in order to provide a more extensive reach along with repeat visits with 10th grade students
Replication
In order to create a similar program, it is important to:
- Consider partnering with local community colleges as program hosts in order to accommodate more students and provide students the opportunity to learn about continuing their education
- Develop collaborative relationships that contribute to community building
- Work with schools to develop policy changes regarding how teachers communicate and respond to student mental health needs
Population of Focus: Adolescents and Teenagers
Links to Resources:
- Read more about I Got U: Healthy Life Choices for Teens
- Download the program results, Good Things in Small Packages? Evaluating an Economy of Scale Approach to Behavioral Health Promotion in Rural America
- Watch a video about I Got U: Healthy Life Choices for Teens
- Learn more about the program through their brochure
- Learn about high-risk substance use among teens
Date: 2024