Back to School with Teen Link 

August 14, 2026

Many students in Washington State will head back to school this month, and we know returning to school can be challenging.  

Quick Take:  

  • Teen Link is here for youth who are struggling 
  • Where to Turn for Teens is our resource for anyone looking for resources for a teen 
  • Warm line and 988 provide emotional support for adults 

Back to school blues?  

Transitioning from summer into school can be a difficult adjustment. New teachers come with new expectations, different schedules and new routines, and it can be difficult to feel like you have a handle on everything. It can also be a time of changing friendships and relationships. Our teen volunteers who answer the phones of our peer support line Teen Link get it. They are ready to listen and hold space for your experience. 

We also want to acknowledge that it might be a little heavier this year since the wildfire has impacted thousands of teens and their families. However you are feeling is okay, and we are ready to listen without judgment.  

If you are a teen, you can text or call Teen Link at 866-833-6546 or chat at teenlink.org/chat. Our line is open from 6pm to 10pm every night; chats and texts must start by 9:30pm to allow time for a conversation (they take a little longer than calls).  

Resources for those caring for teens 

Where to Turn for Teens cover and pages image

We produce a yearly booklet called Where to Turn for Teens with resources for youth under 21 in Washington. You might have seen them around, but did you know we have a digital database version too? Go to Search.TeenLink.org to search reliable resources anytime.  

Signs you might need to check-in with a teen:  

  • Change in mood 
  • Isolation 
  • Appetite Changes 
  • Too much or too little sleep 
  • Irritability 
  • Comments or jokes about suicide 

For the Family 

Our well-being is connected to our environment and the people around us. If you are an adult looking to support a teen in your life, remember that you deserve support and care too. If you want to show up for others in the way you would want to, you have to show up for yourself first.  

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 
Call or text 988 anytime 
Chat at chat.988lifeline.org 

Washington 211  
Call, text, chat 211 Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm 
Find reliable resources anytime at Search.wa211.org 

Recovery Help Line 
Call 866-789-1511 anytime 
Text 866-789-1511 from 9am–9pm 

Warm Line 
Call 877-500-9276 daily from 2pm–10pm 

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