Adolescent Health Initiative

06/18/2026

to our 2026 Connection Session earlier this month! We're so grateful to our speakers, youth panelists, attendees, exhibitors, venue staff, photographer, and team members for everything they did to make this very special convening happen. The knowledge and community that we built together will help save young lives 💜💙

And a special thank you to the U-M Injury Prevention Center for their generous support!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
IMAGE 1 shows Polly Gipson Allen, PhD (she/her) addressing a crowd from a podium with the AHI logo and the words Amplify Youth Voice.
IMAGE 2 shows members of the crowd looking on thoughtfully.
IMAGE 3 shows event host and REACH member Tasnim Dina sitting in the audience watching attentively.
IMAGE 4 shows a youth voice panelist speaking into a microphone.
IMAGE 5 shows two exhibitors smiling and sitting behind a table with promotional materials.
IMAGE 6 shows Syma Khan, MSW, MPH (she/her) gestures while speaking into a microphone.
IMAGE 7 shows youth voice panelist Riana Chhokar (she/her) speaking into a microphone while looking at AHI's Medical Director, Terry Bravender, MD, MPH (he/him). Dr. Bravender describes himself as having brown eyes, white skin, and greying hair.
IMAGE 8 shows AHI's Senior Program Specialist, Lauren Vasquez, MS, CHES (she/ella) behind a podium. Lauren describes herself as a tattooed, multiracial, able-bodied woman with mahogany eyes, butterscotch skin, and curly, dark brown hair with ginger highlights.
IMAGE 9 shows youth voice panelist Chance Whitney (they/them) gesturing as they speak into a microphone.
IMAGE 10 shows Emily Jacobson, MD (she/her) speaking into a microphone.

06/17/2026

June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, raising awareness of an issue that affects the health and well-being of young people, families, and communities across the country.

By raising awareness, supporting youth mental health, and strengthening community connections, we can help create safer environments where young people can thrive. For more no-cost resources on community violence and trauma-informed care, visit: https://michmed.org/zggRg



IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
IMAGE 1 reads June is gun violence awareness month. A time to learn, raise, awareness, and support safer communities. In the United states, firearm injuries are one of the leading causes of death among children and teens, making gun violence a serious public health issue. (Johns Hopkins). Swipe to learn how this affects our youth. An orange ribbon in the shape of a heart.
IMAGE 2 reads IMPACT ON YOUTH. Exposure to gun violence can affect mental health, even when a person is not directly involved. Adolescents exposed to violence may experience: Anxiety or fear, Difficulty concentrating, Sleep problems, Depression, Increased stress. Supporting youth mental health and creating safe environments can help reduce the long-term effects of violence.
IMAGE 3 reads HOW YOU CAN HELP. Creating safer communities starts with prevention and support. Support youth mental health and well-being.
Contact Representatives: Urge local and federal lawmakers to support policies like universal background checks and red flag laws. Safely store fi****ms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. Get involved in local programs that support youth and violence prevention. Everyone has a role in helping adolescents feel safe, supported, and connected.

06/16/2026

"Gender-affirming parenting was linked in this review to improved overall mental health and well-being, self-esteem, quality of life, and access to HIV treatment, as well as decreased gender dysphoria, depression symptoms, internalizing symptoms, and suicidal ideation."

This scoping review of parental approaches to transgender and gender diverse youth found even more evidence supporting a simple truth: gender-affirming parenting and gender-affirming health care saves lives.

This Pride Month, take a moment to learn what you can about the language, approaches, and environments that best support LGBTQIA2S+ youth. 🔗 to our no-cost resources in the comments!

Family support for transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth is broadly known to mitigate harmful effects of stigma, resulting in lowered risk of adverse mental health outcomes. The purpose of this scoping review is to map an overview of the types of evidence available and relevant findings for gen...

06/15/2026

Registration is now open for our upcoming virtual training! Learn the latest data and trends in the evolvingrelationship between youth anxiety and substance use. Participants will explore practical communication strategies and approaches such as safety planning, identifying trusted adults, and setting personal boundaries.

Continuing education credits are available! Register at the 🔗 below.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
A Harm Reduction Approach to Youth Anxiety and Substance Use. Registration now open! July 28, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT. An illustration of a heart in a shield. Logos for AHI and University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.

06/10/2026

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accidents and unintentional injuries remain one of the leading causes of death for adolescents ages 15-19. This National Safety Month, consider how you can help keep young people safe in a supportive, strengths-based way.

For support, visit AHI's risk-screening resources: https://michmed.org/xrdDx

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
National Safety Week. A photo of a youth with a teal shirt, blue hair, and glasses being examined by a woman provider with light skin, dark brown hair, brown eyes, and blue glasses.

06/09/2026

A recently published study of Massachusetts youth ages 1-18 found that between 2014 and 2023, primary care visits related to anxiety showed a 300% relative increase. While these data reflect increased screening and salience of mental health issues, they also demonstrate the staggering need for accessible mental health support among young people.

Join AHI next month for an exploration of how youth-supporting professionals can approach youth anxiety and substance use from a harm reduction perspective. This virtual training will take place July 28, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT. Continuing education credits are available!

⛓️ to the study and the training below!

06/05/2026

Save the date for AHI's upcoming virtual training! A Harm Reduction Approach to Youth Anxiety and Substance Use will take place July 28, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT. Join experts as they explore current trends in youth anxiety and alcohol and cannabis use, examine the mechanisms that link them—including self-medication, shared risk factors, and developmental context—and consider how stigma and access to care shape young people's help-seeking behavior.

Continuing education credits will be available! For full details, visit the 🔗 below!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
A Harm Reduction Approach to Youth Anxiety and Substance Use. A virtual training for youth-supporting professionals. SAVE THE DATE: July 28, 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT. An illustration of a heart in a shield. Logos for AHI and University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.

06/04/2026

We're flipping the script on how youth with special health care needs are represented—and you can be involved! We're looking for Michigan youth who identify as having a physical disability and/or health condition to participate in a photo shoot. We'll be creating an inclusive stock photo gallery which will be available at no-cost to promote better representation of young people with disabilities.

Participants will be compensated with $50 for their participation. For more details or to get involved, contact [email protected]

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
IMAGE 1 reads Be Seen. Be Heard. Be You! We’re recruiting Michigan youth with special health care needs for a paid opportunity! An illustration of three youth smiling. One uses a wheelchair and the other two have prostheses. AHI's logo.
IMAGE 2 reads Our latest project! AHI is exploring how Michigan providers and schools can better support the mental health of youth with special health care needs (YSHCN) and their caregivers. Part of the project will create inclusive stock photography that centers YSHCN in health care settings. An illustration of a large group of people of varying levels of ability.
IMAGE 3 reads The photo shoot. Thursday, June 18
6-8 p.m. EDT
The Corner Health Center
47 N Huron St,
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Participants will receive a $50 stipend for their participation!
A photo of the sign for the Corner Health Center.
IMAGE 4 reads Eligibility requirements.
Youth ages 12-26 years old
Michigan resident or attending a university in Michigan
Fluent in English
Identifies as having a physical disability and/or health condition.
Intellectual, developmental, and behavioral disabilities are not included for this project.
An illustration of a young person in a wheelchair giving a thumbs up.
IMAGE 5 reads Ready to get Involved? Please contact [email protected]. An illustration of four young people of varying abilities.

06/03/2026

"U.S. teens report far less anabolic steroid use than they did two decades ago, but creatine use has risen rapidly in recent years...Combined with declining perceptions of steroid harm and slightly softer disapproval of steroid use, the findings suggest teens may be growing more accepting of muscle-enhancing products, including legal supplements and potentially steroids.

Interesting research on adolescent perceptions and use of muscle enhancers from the University of Michigan School of Nursing and University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. Amid the rise of "looksmaxxing" and other body image-focused social media trends, there are also important distinctions in the data by gender.

Read more:

U.S. teens report far less anabolic steroid use than they did two decades ago, but creatine use has risen rapidly in recent years, according to a new University of Michigan study.

06/02/2026