Thursday evening’s community mental health forum in Iola High School’s science center featured youth taking the lead.
Students involved in Allen County’s three Zero Reasons Why clubs in Iola, Humboldt and Marmaton Valley high schools organized the event. Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, the Rural Health Initiative, and Thrive Allen County were co-sponsors. Travis Buck, Children’s Case Manager and Peer Mentor Lead at SEKMHC, was on hand to help steady the ship, but the clubs’ teen council seemed happy to take charge.
The evening began with a panel discussion, pivoted to small group conversations, and then individuals offered responses to a variety of prompts on posters. About 60 people attended.
Iola student Jaeden Berich said he intends to “talk to as many people as I can to get them to join” Zero Reasons Why. “We need more people in this group,” he said.
Humboldt’s Alex Torres said it was important to focus on self-care, too. “Take care of yourself,” he urged attendees during the panel discussion. “Focus on where you’re at mentally” before jumping all-in to help others.
Teagan Kern, an outpatient therapist with SEKMHC who provides on-campus care at Allen Community College, stressed the importance of “treating people with kindness, even if we’re scared of how it might be perceived.”
That may sound simple, Kern noted, “but it’s not always easy. And you need to be cognizant about what you’re saying about yourself,” to avoid falling into negative feedback loops.
Sharla Miller, a longtime mental health advocate, echoed a theme of engaging in “small acts of kindness and courage.” In order to truly build community, Miller said, “we need to make sure everyone feels acknowledged and invited. But be intentional. And notice the people who haven’t spoken, and give them a voice.” 
Ramon Ballin, a junior at Iola High School, and Marmaton Valley sophomore Colin Ard write their responses to prompts during Thursday evening’s mental health forum in the high school’s science center.Photo by Tim Stauffer / Iola Register
Students also shared tangible advice with the audience. Iola senior Mason Lampe highlighted the importance of disconnecting from phones, while Blayke Patterson, an Iola sophomore, said her perspective improved by disengaging from too many activities she didn’t find fulfilling.
“Once I stepped back and asked myself what I actually care about,” Patterson said, she was able to pour more energy into things she truly enjoyed.
Marmaton Valley’s Sophia Heim talked about the need to engage with others in third spaces, or places outside of home and school.
When the forum concluded, everyone seemed ready to renew efforts to improve mental health outcomes. There is plenty of work to be done, and now is a great time to start.