Mental Healthfor Youth
Support for children and teens navigating stress, anxiety, pain, and life with rheumatic disease
Living with juvenile arthritis or another childhood rheumatic disease can affect more than your body. Pain, fatigue, treatments, appointments, school, friendships, and feeling different can all have an impact on mental health.
This page brings together youth-focused resources, videos, guided meditations, stories, and support tools to help children and teens understand what they’re feeling, build coping skills, and feel less alone.
The existing C+F Youth Mental Health page focuses on sadness, anxiety, self-esteem, self-image, pain, stress, and the value of education and community support.
Mental Health Matters to Youth
Rheumatic disease can affect how youth feel, cope, and see themselves.
Children and teens with rheumatic disease may experience sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, poor self-image, or stress related to pain, treatment, school, friendships, and feeling different.
Mental health support helps youth understand what they’re feeling, build coping skills, and remember they are more than their diagnosis. With the right tools, care team support, and connection to others who understand, young people can feel more confident and less alone.
The current C+F Youth Mental Health page highlights that youth with rheumatic conditions and chronic pain may experience sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, and poor self-image — and emphasizes preparation, education, and community support.
Understanding Common Challenges
Stress, anxiety, low mood, and feeling different can all be part of the experience.
Living with a rheumatic disease can bring challenges that are hard to explain. Pain, fatigue, treatments, needles, missed school, physical limitations, and uncertainty can all affect how youth feel day to day.
Some children and teens may feel anxious, sad, frustrated, isolated, or less confident. Others may struggle with self-image, friendships, school pressure, or the feeling that people do not fully understand what they are going through.
These feelings are real — and support is available. Learning about mental health, talking openly, and connecting with people who understand can help youth build confidence and coping skills over time. The current C+F Youth Mental Health page specifically highlights sadness, anxiety, low self-esteem, poor self-image, pain, stress, and the importance of education and community support.
Anxiety + Worry
Symptoms, treatments, needles, appointments, and uncertainty can all create stress.
Low Mood
Feeling sad, frustrated, or discouraged can happen when illness affects daily life.
Confidence + Identity
Youth may need support remembering they are more than their diagnosis.
Connection
Talking with others who understand can help reduce isolation.
Tools for Coping
Simple strategies can help youth manage and cope with stress, pain, and overwhelm.
When emotions feel big or symptoms are hard to manage, small coping tools can help youth feel more grounded. Strategies like breathing, guided meditation, body scans, mindfulness, rest, and focusing on what is within your control can support both emotional wellbeing and pain management.
These tools do not make every challenge disappear, but they can help youth respond to stress, discomfort, and difficult moments with more confidence.
The current Youth Mental Health page includes guided meditation videos and resources focused on relaxation, pain, stress, difficult moments, sleep, empathy, and managing flares.
Breathing + Relaxation
Help calm the body during stress, pain, or anxiety.
Guided Meditations
Support focus, rest, and being present during difficult moments.
Body Awareness
Notice how stress, pain, and emotions show up in the body.
Controlling the Controllables
Focus on what can be managed, especially during flares or uncertainty.
Connection With Others
Living with a rheumatic disease can feel isolating, especially when friends, classmates, or others do not fully understand what you are going through.
The Cassie + Friends Youth Mentorship Program gives youth a safe, supportive space to connect with trained mentors who have lived experience with rheumatic disease. Mentees can ask questions, hear real-life advice, and feel understood by someone who “gets it.”
Lived Experience
Connect with mentors who understand life with rheumatic disease.
Safe Support
Ask questions in a judgement-free space.
Confidence
Build self-advocacy and coping skills over time.
Connection
Feel less alone through peer support and shared experience.
Videos + Webinars
Expert guidance, youth perspectives, and tools for coping.
These videos explore anxiety, depression, pain, stress, emotional health, and coping with rheumatic disease. They can help youth and families better understand mental health challenges and learn practical ways to manage difficult moments.
View More Mental Health Videos
Anxiety + Depression in Children with Rheumatic Disease
We hosted a conversation on #youthmentalhealth and #rheumaticdisease with a panel of experts! Learn about current research, initiatives, what you can do as a parent or patient and next steps for everyone.
Ask the Expert: Youth Mental Health in Pediatric Rheumatology
As a part of our 2023 Youth Mental Health Strategy, we were pleased to host a roundtable conversation with experts from across the country highlighting the need for better mental health screening, protocols and services in pediatric rheumatology across the country.
Audio Meditation - Body Scan
This audio meditation helps you practice paying attention to your body. Use this meditation if you want to reset, refocus or bring yourself back into the present moment. Make sure you are in a comfortable position and will not be disturbed. Close your eyes and follow along with the meditation.
Sleep: A bedtime story
Dealing with flares: Controlling the controllables
Living with a chronic physical or mental illness can be unpredictable. Symptoms may come and go, and many conditions include sudden flares that interrupt daily life. This video explains why flares happen, why they can feel so hard to control, and how to focus your energy on what is controllable.
Dealing with difficult moments - how to have empathy
Feeling overwhelmed by tough interactions with friends, family, or coworkers? This guided mindfulness practice will help you pause, breathe deeply, and reconnect with compassion. In this video, you’ll learn simple grounding techniques and loving-kindness phrases to reduce stress, calm strong emotions, and build empathy—even during challenging moments. Perfect for anyone seeking emotional balance, inner peace, and resilience in daily life.
Additional Resources
Use these resources to learn more about anxiety, depression, coping strategies, counselling options, and support services for youth and families.
Helpful tools for anxiety, depression, coping, and emotional support.
You Are More Than Your Diagnosis
Living with a rheumatic disease can affect school, friendships, confidence, pain, stress, and daily life — but youth do not have to navigate it alone. Cassie + Friends offers programs, mentorship, stories, and community support to help young people feel understood and supported as they grow.
Additional Support
Related Mental Health tools and useful resources are here for you.