Adolescent Health Initiative

08/31/2026

"Among all students, rates of su***de attempts as reported in the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys data were lower in states with a higher percentage of schools that had a student-led gay-straight alliance or club, facilitated access to providers with experience in providing social and psychological services to LGBTQ + youth, provided positive examples of LGBTQ + people and same-sex or gender relationships, and identified LGBTQ + resources in their community or online...As communities grapple with how best to improve adolescent mental health, implementing LGBTQ + supportive practices should be considered a strategy to benefit all students."

New research out of Stanford Medicine shows how practices supportive of LGBTQIA2S+ students can reduce the su***de risk for all students, regardless of sexuality. For more detailed data, visit the 🔗 in comments!

08/28/2026

At AHI, one of our central tenets is "Nothing about us without us." That means we can't do the work of transforming adolescent health care without working alongside talented youth!

Today we say "see you soon" to two of those young people, Samreen Khan and Danielle Zube. Samreen has spent the last two years as our Marketing Assistant, creating eye-catching graphics for our awareness posts and doing incredibly thorough research and lit reviews for our trainings. Danielle joined us this summer as part of the U-M Center of Excellence for Maternal and Child Health internship program, bringing her talent, passion, and deep knowledge to AHI as part of her studies at the U-M School of Public Health.

We cannot thank Samreen and Danielle enough for their hard work and dedication, and we wish them the best in their next adventures!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
IMAGE 1 is a photo of Samreen Kahn, who describes herself as having light brown skin, dark brown eyes, and black hair. She's wearing a red top and smiling.
IMAGE 2 is a photo of Danielle Zube, who describes herself as having blue eyes, pale skin, and dark brunette hair. She wears a floral maroon shirt.

08/25/2026

Meet Jimmie Lackey (he/him), otherwise known as ABOY, our new youth art consultant for the AMPLIFY art exhibition! Jimmie will be guiding our young artists and collaborating with them to prepare the show for its opening during the 2027 Conference on Adolescent Health. A little more about Jimmie, in his own words:

"I am a fine art oil painter, raised just outside of Detroit in Southfield, Michigan. I dropped out of trade school to pursue creation. Spent four years at the College for Creative Studies and learned a lot about myself and my work. Now I paint to pay the bills. My work consists of just black, white and yellow. For the last few years I’ve been building a collection of moments interrupted by a bright, attractive, and surreal yellow; which takes the form of a smiley face most of the time."

Jimmie's talent and artistry is the perfect fit for helping our AMPLIFY artists refine their pieces and raise their voices. To learn more about the exhibition and our artists, visit the AMPLIFY page in the comments!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:

A photo of Jimmie Lackey wearing a black sleeveless top, glasses, and a red and white checkered beanie.

08/20/2026

Want your daily dose of youth voice? Take a moment to support the young journalists of the Detroit Journalism Summer Camp run by the Detroit Writing Room and Planet Detroit and read their articles on immigration justice, sustainability, and youth mental health:

Each summer, high school students from across Detroit take part in the Detroit Journalism Summer Camp, run by The Detroit Writing Room in partnership with Planet Detroit. Over two weeks, students learn the fundamentals of reporting, interviewing, and storytelling. With coaching from professional jou...

08/19/2026

Did you miss our recent training, A Harm Reduction Approach to Youth Anxiety and Substance Use? No worries! The full recording is now available in our course catalog. Learn from two leading experts as they dive deep into the data, concerns, and strategies surrounding these interrelated issues. A CE-eligible version will be available soon - stay tuned!

Access the course on demand below!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
A Harm Reduction Approach to Youth Anxiety and Substance Use. Now available on demand! An illustration of a heart in a shield. Logos for AHI and University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.

08/18/2026

"During the 2025-2026 school year, vaccination coverage among kindergartners in the United States decreased for all reported vaccines from the year before...exemptions from one or more vaccines among kindergartners in the United States increased to 4.2% from 3.6% the year before."

New findings from the CDC show the importance of clear, evidence-based communication about the lifesaving benefits of vaccines for U.S. youth. For more information and strategies for discussing immunization with youth and their families, see our on-demand training in the comments below!

08/12/2026

We want to hear from YOUth! AHI has a new survey for young people 12-26 to better understand their perspective on their health care experiences. We want to know what young people need for comfortable, respectful, and youth-centered care!

This short survey should take less than 5 minutes. For more information, visit: https://michmed.org/xdrMd

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
We want to raise your voice! We have a survey for young people 12-26 about their health care. Take 5 minutes and improve youth care! An illustration of a young person behind a lectern speaking into a microphone. AHI's logo.

08/11/2026

Want to learn more about of the University of Michigan is investing in the health of youth, mothers, and families? Take a few minutes to listen to this recent podcast from the University of Michigan School of Public Health featuring Kendrin Sonneville, ScD, RD. Dr. Sonneville introduces the new Center of Excellence for Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health and discusses how it's improving outcomes, not only for patients, but for early-career health workers.

Kendrin Sonneville introduces the new Center of Excellence for Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health at the University of Michigan School of Public Health that works to improve outcomes for mothers, children, young people, and families.

08/07/2026

Want the best prices for the year's best Conference? Book your registration TODAY! The savings end at midnight EDT tonight. Don't miss your chance to save big on all of the workshops, presentations, and community building at

For full details, visit our Conference page in the comments!

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
2026 Conference on Adolescent Health. Last Chance! Early Bird prices end at midnight. An illustration of a doctor in a white coat, holding a map with a route planned out it, surrounded by a group of six diverse youth. Logos for AHI and University of Michigan Health, Michigan Medicine.

08/05/2026

What role does nature play in young people's health? And how can we support the connection between wellness and time outdoors? A 2020 study of 14-24 year-olds from the of Michigan School of Public Health showed that the majority of respondents felt calm when they were out in nature, and 88% wanted to spend more time there.

This , find a time to get outside, enjoy nature, and find calm 🍃☀️🌳

IMAGE DESCRIPTION:
National Parks & Recreation Month. A photo of the AHI team posing in front of a wooded background. AHI's logo.