ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. (WNDU) – The first Youth Mental Health Summit debuted in St. Joseph County, bringing together local mental health resources, clinics, hospitals and leaders from Notre Dame.
Tuesday’s focus was on how to protect youth and expand access to mental health support.
Mental health can be a taboo topic, especially for young people, and local experts said it can be hard to ask for help.
“I think there’s a crisis of mental health across the country and here in our county is no different in that,” said Kristin Valentino, director of the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic.
Psychology experts are working to bring free counseling resources to kids through Instagram home pages.
Dr. Jessica Schleider, associate professor of medical social sciences at Northwestern University, said online platforms can be used to reach young people where they are already looking for information and help.
“That can be a wonderful opportunity to deliver care in spaces where they’re already seeking information and help. And maybe prevent some of the harms we know the platforms can be linked to from actually occurring,” Schleider said.
Summit highlights single-session intervention
Schleider was the keynote speaker at the inaugural Youth Mental Health Summit. She presented research on Single Session Intervention, or SSI.
The intervention is described as a 5- to 10-minute questionnaire or self-guided mini-session, with no health care professional involved.
The summit focused on bringing those resources to St. Joseph County.
“Many youth are seeking support and are unable to get support so part of what we’re doing today is the ways we can meet teens where they are,” Valentino said.
Schleider said mental health care innovation requires community support.
“None of this single session intervention work, or any kind of innovation or mental healthcare happens without community buy-in at a really system level,” Schleider said.
Local leaders are putting the technology to the test in St. Joseph County through the Universal Wellness Program, which expands mental health resources for youth.
People can participate in clinical trials and provide feedback about the resources.
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