QUINCY (WGEM) – For Laura Kane, hope is more than just a word. For her, it means “Hold on, pain ends.”
Marshmallow’s Hope was founded by Kane after her 14-year-old son Zachary died to suicide. His nickname was Marshmallow.
Kane said she started Marshmallow’s Hope as a way to help kids and families who are struggling with mental health.
“Just talking about it makes all the difference in the world in helping normalize it, breaking down that stigma and the barriers that surround it so that people can know that it’s okay to not be okay, that they’re human and that they don’t have to suffer in silence or alone,” Kane said.
The non-profit serves 88 counties in Illinois including Adams, Pike, Brown, Scott, Hancock, Schuyler and McDonough. Kane said Marshmallow’s Hope has clinicians in each county who work with children struggling with mental health.
When Marshmallow’s Hope is contacted, Kane said a clinician will come to the child’s home, meet with them and their parents and determine what care is required.
Kane said parents, including herself, often confuse mental health struggles with normal teenage angst. She said parents should look out for things like withdrawal from others, an increase in drinking or smoking, no longer doing the things they love, giving away belongings, a decline in personal hygiene and doing things that are out of character.
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Kane said. “It doesn’t make your child any less and it doesn’t make you an unfit parent, ‘cause that’s also very common that parents think, ‘Oh, there’s something wrong with me as a parent if my kid is struggling this way,’ and that’s not the case,” Kane said.
Last year, Kane said Marshmallow’s Hope served 896 kids throughout Illinois.
All Marshmallow’s Hope services are free.
If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to the National Suicide Line at 988 or Marshmallow’s Hope at 888-277-4028.
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