During Upper School chapel last week, we welcomed youth speaker, Evan, from Minding Your Mind (MYM).

MYM's mission is to provide mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults, their parents, teachers and school administrators. The goal of their programming is to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors often associated with mental health issues, and through programming in schools and communities to change the pathway of reactive crisis based response to proactive prevention through education.

Evan shared with us his experience of coping with panic attacks, generalized anxiety, and depression, and his journey through substance abuse, house arrest and finding the right treatment and positive influences in this life to reach recovery. He also provided education on the progression of depression and the importance of helping yourself by asking for help. More about Evan’s story can be found on MYM's website. 

With the rates of teen depression and anxiety sharply increasing over the past ten plus years, confronting stereotypes and removing other barriers to accessing mental health treatment is crucial to the future health and well-being of our youth. Stigma and judgements whether from others or our own internal selves often come from a place of misunderstanding, and building knowledge through facts and demystification can be a pivotal bridging step in increasing individuals’ willingness and hopefulness about seeking help. Making space to nurture ourselves (self-care, healthy stress management) and space for each other as we listen and speak openly about our emotions and experiences without shame is also imperative. Connectedness and acceptance can go a long way toward reducing feelings of isolation and otherness associated with all types of stereotypes and discrimination.

Parents/caregivers are encouraged to learn more about signs of mental health challenges, setting the stage for healthy help-seeking behavior, and preparing teens for seeking professional help on the Center for Parent and Teen Communication’s website. The Center for Parent and Teen Communication also has recommended tools for teens about stress management and tips on how to have difficult conversations with parents. Community members can find further education on mental illness and local and national resources on the National Alliance on Mental Illness - Lehigh Valley chapter’s website.