Learn how to tell the difference between normal teen behavior and something more serious, and find out what kinds of help are available during an upcoming youth mental health and wellness program.
Healing Our Youth: Get Educated! is an educational outreach event designed to help the community become better informed about mental health and wellness to better support and heal the community's youth. It will take place Thursday, Nov. 14 at STEM School Highlands Ranch, 8773 S. Ridgeline Blvd.
The event includes a free panel presentation and resource fair for teachers, school staff/administrators, parents, youth workers, and anyone interested in helping improve the mental wellness of youth.
The panel includes the former president of NAMI Arapahoe/Douglas Counties (National Alliance on Mental Illness), who will present a personal look at parenting a child with mental illness and some signs of her son's illness that she missed; a psychologist, who will share the facts, statistics and basic biology of mental disorders; a physician, who will discuss teen substance abuse and the effects on a developing brain; a licensed professional counselor, who will discuss how to identify unhealthy adolescent behaviors and the treatments that are available; and a youth/young adult, who will share her journey with a mental health disorder.
Attendees also will have the opportunity to connect with a variety of mental wellness specialists at the resource fair.
Healing Our Youth: Get Educated! is free, but those planning to attend are asked to RSVP at www.healingouryouth.org/calendar.