March 2 is World Teen Mental Wellness Day. The goal is to encourage teenagers to have conversations about mental health and to erase the stigma that often colors the topic for teens. Luckily, DFW conveniently offers activities on Wednesday that would serve as great ways to unwind in the name of mental wellness.
World Teen Mental Wellness Day was established by The Hollister Confidence Project in 2020. The organization aims to help teenagers feel capable, comfortable, and confident by ending mental-health stigma and teaching teens about mental wellness.
Learning to prioritize mental wellness, including taking active steps to practice self-care, can help improve mental health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes ideal mental health as “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to his or her community.”
According to NationalToday.com, March 2 is also about spreading awareness and information on mental health, including tools for parents to help guide their teenagers as they navigate its issues. The American Psychological Association (APA) suggests that members of Gen Z are currently most likely to struggle with their mental health; in children and teens ages 10 through 19, 16% of diagnosed diseases and injuries are related to mental health, especially beginning around 14 years old.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area offers activities on March 2 that provide opportunities for teenagers to celebrate the day, relax, and have some fun.
Visiting Butterflies in the Garden at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. is one way to ensure a peaceful morning on a day dedicated to mental wellness. Located at 3220 Botanic Garden Boulevard, guests can see the largest exhibit of exotic butterflies in North-Central Texas and watch as they flutter through the air. Admission for non-members to explore the butterfly exhibit is $8 for ages 6 to 15 and $12 for ages 16 and up.
Urban Adventure Quest, an interactive tour and scavenger hunt, provides a more brain-stimulating alternative, and will be taking place at four locations throughout the DFW area on March 2. Participants use their smartphones to find clues, complete challenges, learn about hidden gems and secrets of the city, and earn points. The cost is $49 for a group of two to five people.
One location is at the JFK Memorial Plaza, and the scavenger hunt starts at Union Station in Dallas. This tour has twenty-three challenges in which participants will visit the famous cattle drive, monuments, cemetery, buildings of interest, and the JFK assassination spot.
In the Dallas Art District, the hunt starts at Meyerson Symphony Center and has seventeen challenges. A walk around town allows for observation of outdoor art, museums, historic cathedrals, and the local culture.
In Fort Worth, the hunt starts at the Tarrant County Courthouse and features twenty challenges in which participants will visit the Heritage Trail, as well as a garden.
A smaller version of the scavenger hunt, the Fort Worth Stockyards Mini Quest, is also available for a group of two to five people for $30. The tour starts at E. Exchange & Packers and includes thirteen challenges that will lead participants to cowboy hangouts, historic buildings, and hidden gems.
For more information on Urban Adventure Quest and to purchase a tour, click here.
