A forum at the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club in Southport on Tuesday focused on students and their mental health. Panelists, including host Republican state Sen. Tony Hwang, discussed how parents can better support the mental health needs of thier children.
Hwang said the first step to addressing mental health is to remove the stigma surrounding it. The more common these conversations are, he said, the more likely children will feel comfortable speaking honestly.
鈥淐ommunicate and support each other,鈥� Hwang said. 鈥淥ur program is about raising awareness and destigmatizing mental health.
"But most important of all,," he said, is "to remind individuals struggling with mental health, and their loved ones and caretakers, that they themselves are never alone. There are people out there to support and help them.鈥�
Jim Kuczo's 17-year-old son Kevin died by suicide two years ago. Kuczo said he never thought this would happen to his family. He believes more parents need to make space for their child to be open about how they feel.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want anyone else to go through that,鈥� Kuczo said. 鈥淎t the very least, teach kids that mental illness is not a flaw, it鈥檚 a disease just like anything else. It鈥檚 not a you problem, it鈥檚 a genetic problem. But it can be overcome.鈥�
Starting these conversations with your children involves asking open-ended questions that cannot be answered with 鈥渇ine,鈥� Kuczo said. Asking the question, 鈥淭ell me something interesting about your day,鈥� is more effective in portraying your interest in what happens in your child鈥檚 life, he said.
Makayla Cunningham, a student at Fairfield Warde High School, said parents need be more attentive to things that are important to their children. Cunningham said there鈥檚 a barrier between what adults perceive as important and what kids think is important.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much pressure between getting good grades and getting into the right school. High school is just becoming overwhelming and a competitive atmosphere,鈥� Cunningham said. 鈥淧arents put too much pressure on always being number one, always being the best. They need to take a step back and support their kids and their dreams because it might not be the same as theirs.鈥�
Pedro Espada, a student at Notre Dame Catholic High School, said if students are struggling with depression and have suicidal thoughts, the most important thing they can do is talk to someone about it.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 know how to communicate it. People don鈥檛 feel like they have the voice, they feel as a younger individual they have to keep it to themselves because no one else will understand," Espada said. "So, letting people know that they can tell someone 鈥� is really important.鈥�
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. .
