Mentorship is an effective way to foster resiliency in at-risk youth. It comes as no surprise that having a reliable adult to talk to can make a huge difference in a teenager’s life. A study performed in 2002 showed that after 6 months, teenagers in a mentorship program were quite noticeably less depressed, less withdrawn, less anxious, and less aggressive than they had been before.

Mentorship is time consuming, but it is effective. If you know a youth who could benefit from a mentor, look up mentorship programs in your city and see if it’s an option. Mentorship programs vary in intensity, but even a small amount of interaction with a positive role-model can benefit a youth. Teachers and parents are often extremely busy, but they should always try to make time if they know a teenager who could benefit from having somebody to talk to.