SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — A crisis in youth mental health.
That’s what experts are describing at Tuesday’s Youth Mental Health Summit in South Bend.
The event is a collaboration with the University of Notre Dame’s new Veldman Family Psychology Clinic and the Youth Mental Health Round Table.
More than 250 people were in attendance, with an additional waitlist needed at the St. Joseph County Library.
Panelists and speakers are getting the conversation started on the importance of youth mental health in the community.
A crisis in youth mental health. That’s what experts are describing at Tuesday’s Youth Mental Health Summit in South Bend. (WSBT Photo)
Hoping to close the gap on stigmas and stereotypes.
Showcasing resources, like a new tool being developed through the recently launched Veldman Family Psychology Clinic to help cope with anxiety and depression.
“I think that there’s a crisis of mental health all across the country, and our county really is no different in that many youth are seeking support and are unable to access support. And so part of what we’re brainstorming together today is the ways that we can meet teens where they are, try to address unmet needs, and think of ways that we can work together to have more seamless partnerships,” said Kristen Valentino, director of Veldman Family Psychology Clinic.
Emphasizing the need to build new intervention tools that can be accessed outside of traditional health care spaces..
One of these tools is connecting with youth through social media.
Another is the “Universal Wellness Project,” hoping to help youth cope with anxiety and depression.
“There have to be caregivers, providers, school professionals, and youths all on the same page about why change matters and what that change can look like. And spaces like this create opportunities for conversation and exchange of information and openness that just aren’t possible, I think, if we all go through our siloed everyday lives,” said Jessica Schleider, associate professor of medical social sciences, pediatrics and psychology at Northwestern University and director of scalable mental health.
Experts hope this summit is the tipping point for more conversations and motivation in the community to prioritize youth mental health.