The Day I Realized I Didn't Know My Own Child
Chris Coulter thought his daughter Maddie was just being a teenager. Eye rolls, silence, withdrawal. He told himself it was a phase. One night he found her at a party in distress. He told her tomorrow would be a new day. That night she attempted suicide. This article is about what he missed, what he's learned since, and why he built The Mentor Well — a mentorship platform for teens and families navigating mental health challenges. Includes free tools and resources for parents.
We Don’t Wait to Talk About Cancer, Why Wait for Mental Health?
When a teenager is diagnosed with cancer, the support is immediate. When a teenager is admitted to a psychiatric ward, there's silence. Chris Coulter's daughter Maddie spent two months in a youth psychiatric ward. Her friends were told it was stomach issues. Only family visited. This article explores why we treat physical and mental illness differently, the cost of silence, and why it's time to stop whispering about youth mental health. Includes practical resources for parents and employers.