Teen Creates Online Mental Health Platform for Peers.

October 1, 2024 by Cathy Stack

A teenager, named Zach Gottlieb wanted to encourage his peers – especially boys – to talk about their feelings. In 2021, at 15 years old, he created an online mental health community named the 'Talk With Zach' channel on Instagram and TikTok to help teens like himself. His social media audience rapidly grew to more than 300,000 worldwide, which includes subscribers from 19 countries.

The youth-oriented online community offers a space where teens can openly discuss their thoughts, worries and challenges. Topics range from pressures of school life, such as bullying and maintaining good grades, to growing up in the age of social media. Some discussions center on global issues, such as the environment, and others deal with interpersonal relationships with family and friends. Zach hopes his platform has helped increase teens’ access to wellness resources while eradicating old stigmas surrounding mental health struggles.

Using his social media channels, Zach hosts online conversations with health experts, celebrities, poets, comedians, athletes, activists and other teens to promote an open dialogue. He views his online community as a forum for youth to have real conversations about topics that impact all teens.

Zach answers some of the teens’ questions himself, but usually relies on professional insights provided by mental health experts. His expert guests often discuss various tools that teens can use to increase their confidence, learn how to communicate more effectively, and learn to manage their emotions in more constructive ways. The experts also discuss positive outlets that help teens deal with life challenges as an alternative to allowing more negative and destructive emotions to fester. Teens are encouraged to maintain a sense of gratitude, and they are strongly encouraged to focus on their strengths.

“My message is that vulnerability is a strength rather than a weakness,” explained Zach.

During a time when he felt extreme isolation, following the death of his grandfather, Zach developed the idea for his social media community. The overwhelmingly positive response to his “Talk with Zach” community prompted him to continue the effort for teens like him who needed a safe place to connect with peers around real issues.

Zach was astonished at the high volume of heartfelt, thought-provoking, funny and illuminating submissions he received from teens all over the world after that initial launch. His social media audience rapidly grew to more than 300,000 worldwide, which includes subscribers from 19 countries.

As a next step, Zach recruited a team of volunteers who could assist with content creation and outreach. Since that time, his platform has grown to include workshops held at universities and speaking engagements at youth-oriented wellness conferences.

“I’ve come to see that I’m capable of more than I ever imagined,” Zach shared. “And I’ve learned that there is nothing more powerful for teens than learning from each other and growing healthier together.”

Mental health advocates say that online communities, such as the one Zach has created, offer teens a positive way to connect with other teens outside of their own school environment. These communities also increases teens’ willingness to find and accept mental health services when needed.

“It’s so taboo in our culture for men and boys, in particular, to really talk about their feelings,” said Zach, who added that teen boys often comment on how nice it is to read that other boys share their feelings and concerns about life.

The Foundation for a Better Life and PassItOn.com believe that Zach Gottlieb is a hero for taking the initiative to form a community where teens can connect with one another and discuss topics in an open, healthy and relatable way. His action is a great example of connection. Please help us celebrate Zach by sharing his inspiring story.