RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Students from across South Dakota gathered for a two-day conference focused on mental health, leadership, and healthy decision-making.
Youth & Family Services’ Western Prevention Resource Center hosted students in grades 7 through 12 at the 2026 South Dakota Youth Leadership Conference. The event centered on mental health and empowering students to be positive influences in their communities.
Organizers said the conference provides young people with tools to manage stress, support their friends, and make informed decisions.
Brandon Saho, creator of the Mental Game podcast and the event’s keynote speaker, said younger generations discuss mental health better than anyone else.
“Those kids are breaking the stigma, sharing their vulnerability, and having conversations that you, and me didn’t, the people at home watching this didn’t, no one was talking about mental health for a really long time, and these kids are really leading the charge,” Saho said.
Students rotated through breakout sessions, hands-on activities, and small-group discussions. The sessions focused on communication, teamwork, and handling difficult situations at school.
Talia, a Sturgis Brown High School student, said social media and online platforms create mental health challenges for teenagers.
“Social media or any kind of online platform can cause a lot of teenagers to struggle nowadays with anything ranging from eating disorders to depressive episodes to anxiety due to the constant pressure of what society does to your mind and body,” Talia said.
Organizers said they hope students will take tools back to their peer leadership groups, start conversations about mental health, support classmates, and set the tone for healthier schools.
The conference continues on Friday at the Rapid City Army National Guard Armory.
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