This is not how your story ends, this is just the beginning.

Mental health issues are not prioritized and often thrown under the radar until they become visible issues such as suicide and overdose. Depression, anxiety, self-harm, and substance abuse are viewed as excuses, acts of laziness, attention-seeking, and/or bad behavior. The youth struggling with these challenges are not provided with enough resources in our community. We have to address what is going on with our teens and the significance of the emotional discomfort they are facing on a daily basis. Navigating life is challenging for fully-developed adults. Teens are juggling hormones, peer pressure, social media, college preparation, and or preparing to enter the “real” world and all of the responsibilities that come with transitioning into adulthood. 

All we want in this world is to be happy. When this feeling seems impossible to grasp in our daily lives, it is natural to seek something outside of ourselves to find peace, comfort, or a sense of relief. After speaking with a group of teens and young adults, the consensus is that they need more productive activities to participate in within our community.