You Matter

You Matter

Seeing your strengths matters: who you are, your gifts in the world.

What do you love about yourself? If you can’t think of something, that’s ok. What do you do that is comforting for you? Remember it for when the world is spinning out, and you are hurting.

If you are hurting, you are not alone—hopefully, this card will help support you or someone you care about if they need help.

Adults Make Mistakes, Too

If adults have broken your trust in the past, they may be hard to trust now.

• Maybe they didn’t listen to you or respect you.

• Remember: who you share your personal information with is your choice.

• If you are feeling unsafe in any relationship, you have the right to get information on how to get support without having to tell your story.

We believe trust is something to be earned.

During Hard Times

If you have had bad things happen, keeping it to yourself can be a lot.

You can’t change the past, but you can change the future. You will get older. There are people who can help if you feel like you can’t share anything.

Repeating, “This will change, this will change, this will change” can help you hold on in the rough spots.

There are people who care and won’t judge, see the back of this card for anonymous support.

You Aren’t Alone

Sometimes people grow up facing mistreatment or other problems like:

• Being bullied or discriminated against or not loved

• Feeling unsafe in your neighborhood or not having enough to eat

• Caregivers/parents who have substance use or mental health issues

• Caregivers/parents humiliating you, or putting you down, or hurting you physically or sexually

No matter what, it isn’t your fault.

Complicated Relationships

Sometimes people hurt you—could be parents, other adults, or people you are in a relationship with.

• Sometimes people touch us or hurt us in unwanted sexual ways.

• Sometimes we are treated or treat others badly physically or mentally.

• Sometimes hurting others or being hurt ourselves makes people feel ashamed or afraid they can’t change.

If you are being hurt or are hurting someone and want help to change—you can find some resources below.

Mental Health and Well-being

If you had or are having tough times growing up, it can affect you in different ways:

• Managing school—it can be hard to concentrate, learn, and focus

• Stress, anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts

• Using substances to cope

• Eating disorders, self-harm like cutting or burning

• Relationships where you’re being hurt or hurting someone

But that’s not the end of the story—there is support and things can change for the better.

We asked young people what helps them heal:

• Talking to someone you trust

• Thinking about good things in your life

• Taking a deep breath to remember the thing that helps you feel calm

• Art, music, sports, cooking, baking, reading, writing, gaming

• Getting outside in nature

• Talking to a counselor

Helping a Friend

Do you have a friend that is being hurt or struggling with past or current harms? Try these steps to help them:

• Tell them what worries you and that you care.

• Talk in a private place, and don’t tell other friends what they say.

• Make sure you have support, so you don’t have to carry it alone.

• Send them to this link, and tell them about the hotlines on it.

• If you or someone you know is feeling so sad that they plan to hurt themselves and/or wish they were dead—get help by calling National Suicide Prevention Hotline: Dial 988

If you or someone you know is being hurt by a partner or need support in some other way please call/text these hotlines—they are free, open 24/7, and they don’t report what you say to anyone: 1-800-331-9474 | Text “loveis” to 22522

For Queer youth: Text “START” to 678-678

Text trained counselors for free about anything else that’s on your mind

Text “HELLO” to 741741