Much has been written about the mental-health crisis among U.S. teenagers—a crisis that has a startling percentage of adolescents reporting depression, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal behavior. But writing about teenagers, instead of involving them in the story, often just skims the surface. To address that, photojournalist Robin Hammond interviewed and photographed dozens of young people across the U.S., giving them the space to talk about mental health on their own terms and in their own words. Their stories are at times heartbreaking, touching on everything from gun violence to cyberbullying and sexual harassment. But their words are also deeply encouraging. The kids Hammond met have been through a lot, and often emerged stronger. They shared not only personal strategies for coping, but also advice for other teens struggling to do the same. “You're like a volcano,” says 16-year-old Jasmine, pictured above. “If you have vents in your volcano, some steam will blow off and you'll get it out. But if you hold it all in, at some point, you'll explode.” READ MORE |
