Our young people often put on a good face. But when they are anonymously surveyed about how they’re doing, their responses are concerning. In fact, more than one-third of middle and high school students in Tompkins County say they feel depressed or sad on most days and that “sometimes I think life is not worth it.”
“Our youth are struggling,” said town hall organizer Tiffany Bloss
A community town hall will be held at the Tompkins County Public Library on Saturday October 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. to throw light on the mental health challenges many of our young people are experiencing.
“Youth Mental Health & Wellness Town Hall,” organized and hosted by the Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition, will provide information on how to support the well-being of our youth and hear testimonies from young community members themselves.
The event, part of the United in Kindness series of events in Tompkins County, will feature short Ted Talk-style presentations with an opportunity for Q&A with like local mental health leaders.
Speakers include Melanie Little, director of Training and Peer Education at the Mental Health Association of Tompkins County; Tiffany Bloss, executive director of Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County; and Pat Breux, former director of School and Youth Initiatives at the Suicide Prevention Center of New York.
Shawn Goodman, an author and psychologist in the Ithaca Central School District, will share anecdotes from his new book, How to Survive Your Parents.
Organizer Tiffany Bloss, executive director of the Suicide Prevention & Crisis Service of Tompkins County, said she encouraged youth as well as their caregivers to attend.
“This is such an important topic for our community. Our youth are struggling. There are so many pressures in their lives that other generations did not have to deal with: heightened academic standards, family pressures, compromised school safety, a global pandemic, and the ever-present social media. At the town hall, we will be discussing all of these topics and more,” Bloss said.
Bloss emphasized the critical importance of tending to mental health in youth.
“Mental health is vital to the overall health and well-being in a person’s life. The adolescent years are crucial for developing social and emotional habits that build a foundation for mental well-being. These include good sleeping habits, regular movement of the body, self-care routines, developing problem-solving and interpersonal skills, and learning to manage emotions. Protective and supportive environments within the family, at school and in the wider community are important to a youth’s mental health,” Bloss said.
Town hall attendees are encouraged to register (not mandatory) at https://bit.ly/4gsfGr6.
The Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition is comprised of health agencies, community organizations, and individual members who share a determination to prevent suicide deaths in our community. It is a collective of volunteers that strives for diverse and inclusive representation and encourages collaboration for achieving goals.
The coalition’s goals include:
Improving the quality and enhance the use of data sources and systems for suicide prevention in Tompkins County;
Advancing quality improvement for suicide care in all Tompkins County healthcare and behavioral health settings;
Reducing suicide attempts in the youth population, including students attending colleges in Tompkins County;
Reducing access to lethal means for suicide within high-risk demographic populations as determined by national, state, and local data;
And advocating for policies and practices designed to prevent suicides in the community.
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