Still from Teen Hope Academy video featuring Dr. Glory Finnegan Psy.D.
(Image courtesy Hope Means Nevada)
LAS VEGAS (March 2026) – Hope Means Nevada (HMN), the community-based non-profit focused on supporting youth mental health, eliminating youth suicide in the state and empowering Nevada’s youth to live hopeful lives, announces the launch of Teen Hope Academy, a new statewide program created to equip Nevada’s youth with life-saving mental health tools at a time when they are needed most. The launch comes as Nevada ranks 51st out of 51 states and jurisdictions in Mental Health America’s 2025 State of Mental Health in America report, reflecting the highest prevalence of youth mental health challenges and the lowest access to care nationwide.
Teen Hope Academy is Hope Means Nevada’s largest initiative to date. The five-session, evidence-informed video program, led by Dr. Glory Finnegan, Psy.D., and produced thanks to the generosity of R&R Partners, is delivered to participating students via Google Classroom during in-person sessions facilitated by school staff. The interactive video sessions were designed to be viewed together in a daylong workshop or spread out over a period of days or weeks, and each one focuses on preventative strategies and practical skills to help teens navigate daily stressors and emotional challenges. In addition, each student receives the accompanying Teen Hope Academy workbook, which provides a toolkit students can use to support their mental wellness beyond the sessions.
The Teen Hope Academy program covers the following core areas:
Mindfulness: Understanding thoughts and emotions without judgment and learning strategies to stay grounded.
Distress Tolerance: Practical tools to stay calm and manage intense emotions during stressful situations.
Emotional Regulation: Learning to identify, process and respond to emotions in healthy ways.
Interpersonal Effectiveness: Building stronger, healthier relationships, setting boundaries and asking for help.
Hope in Action: Recognizing warning signs of crisis, knowing how to check in with peers and connecting others with support.
Teen Hope Academy is rolling out in three Nevada schools to start: Coronado High School in Henderson, Fertitta Middle School in Las Vegas and Virgin Valley High School in Mesquite. Hope Means Nevada intends to grow the program to reach more students across the state.
According to Mental Health America’s 2025 report, which looked at 2024 national data and 2022/2023 state data, Nevada’s youth face among the highest prevalence of mental health challenges in the nation. The report noted 22.6% of adolescents in Nevada experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. Nearly 14.2% reported serious thoughts of suicide, and nearly 38% did not receive a preventive doctor’s visit within a year. These are crucial opportunities to identify and address mental health concerns early with our youth. These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for early intervention, education and programs such as the Teen Hope Academy that meet our teens where they are.
“Year after year, the data shows that what we’re doing as a state isn’t working, and our youth are paying the price,” said Janna Velasco, executive director of Hope Means Nevada. “Teen Hope Academy aims to provide a much-needed mental wellness skill-building resource that’s completely turnkey for schools and other youth organizations. It gives teens practical tools, a supportive community and the reminder that they are never alone. It’s time to stop waiting for change and start creating it.”
By offering a free, judgment-free space to learn, share and practice mental health strategies, Teen Hope Academy builds resilience and breaks down stigma around seeking help. Each participant leaves not only with powerful tools but also a Hope Patch — a symbol of their commitment to mental wellness and their role in the Hope Means Nevada movement
Hope Means Nevada invites schools, educators and youth organizations across the state to bring Teen Hope Academy directly to their campuses as part of their curriculum, after-school programming or wellness initiatives. To learn more about the Teen Hope Academy, contact Hope Means Nevada’s executive director Janna Velasco at janna@hopemeansnevada.org.
ABOUT HOPE MEANS NEVADA
Hope Means Nevada’s (HMN) mission is to eliminate teen suicide and empower Nevada’s youth to live hopeful lives. As one of the most trusted and visible mental health resources in the state, HMN inspires a culture of empathy and advocacy around mental health. While raising awareness around Nevada’s high rates of mental health challenges, the organization strives to amplify hope and connect youth with desperately needed resources. Through collaborative, compassionate, inclusive and impactful efforts, the community-based initiative envisions a suicide-free Nevada. For more information about Hope Means Nevada, go to www.hopemeansnevada.org and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and X. The new National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is now three-digit dialing code 988. Those experiencing a mental health emergency can also text “Home” to 741741 to reach the National Crisis Text Line.
