14/09/2026
WHEN “I’M FINE” DOESN’T REALLY MEAN “I’M FINE.”
Yesterday, we had an important conversation with young people during our AHWF monthly webinar on:
BUILDING EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE AND PREVENTING S* U *IÇIDE AMONG ADOLESCENTS.
And one question from our facilitator, Mrs. Aderoju, really made us think:
Why is it so easy to say “I’m fine” when we are actually not fine?
Sometimes, it is because we are afraid that people won't understand.
Sometimes, we fear being judged.
Sometimes, we don't want to burden anyone.
And sometimes, we simply don't know how to put our feelings into words.
But this is why conversations like these matter.
WHY DOES S* U*ICI* DE PREVENTION MATTER?
Su***de is a global public health concern, and young people are not excluded from this reality.
According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 727,000 people died by su***de in 2021, and su***de was the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29 globally. About 73% of su***de deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
These are not just numbers.
They remind us that we need to take young people's emotional well-being seriously.
Young people may face experiences that feel overwhelming, and stigma and fear of judgment can make it harder to seek help.
This is where emotional resilience becomes so important.
WHAT IS EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE?
Our facilitator reminded us that emotional resilience is not:
“I don't cry.”
“Nothing affects me.”
“I can handle everything by myself.”
Instead, emotional resilience is the ability to experience difficult emotions, adapt to challenges, recover from setbacks and seek appropriate support when we need it.
We also learnt that:
ASKING FOR HELP IS A STRENGTH, NOT A WEAKNESS.
And sometimes, the first step is simply saying:
“I am not okay, and I need someone to talk to.”
WHAT CAN WE DO?
As young people, friends, parents, teachers and other adults, we all have a role to play.
💚 Listen before lecturing.
💚 Take young people's concerns seriously.
💚 Don't shame or humiliate someone for struggling.
💚 Create safe spaces where young people can speak honestly.
💚 Encourage healthy ways of coping with difficult emotions.
💚 Check in on friends who suddenly withdraw or seem different.
💚 When someone is struggling seriously, involve a trusted adult and seek appropriate professional support.
And if a friend tells you they are struggling, don't dismiss them.
Don't say, “You're just being dramatic.”
Don't compare their problems with someone else's.
Listen. Take them seriously. Stay connected. Tell a trusted adult and help them get the support they need.
AND TO EVERY YOUNG PERSON READING THIS:
You matter.
Your worth is not determined by your grades, popularity, appearance, mistakes or social-media following.
Your feelings matter.
You don't have to pretend that everything is okay when it isn't.
You don't have to face everything alone.
Some people can listen. Some people can help.
And most importantly:
A difficult moment does not have to define your entire future.
A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR FACILITATOR ❤️
To Mrs , thank you for leading this conversation with so much warmth, wisdom and intentionality.
Thank you for giving our young people room to think, ask questions, share their perspectives and learn how to build emotional resilience while looking out for one another.
At AHWF, we value people who invest their time, knowledge and heart in young people.
We see your contribution.
We appreciate your work.
And we are grateful that you chose to pour into our young people.
Thank you for being part of this important conversation. ❤️
To everyone who joined us yesterday:
Speak up
Keep listening.
Keep checking in.
Keep creating safe spaces.
Because young people deserve to know that they can speak, they can seek help, and they do not have to struggle alone.
Adolescent Health and Wellness Foundation
***dePrevention
