Teen leaders from local high schools came together to discuss youth mental health at the 4th statewide discussion with Hope Means Nevada in Reno, Nevada. Sydney Menante, Co-chair of the Teen Committee for Hope Means Nevada, emphasized the importance of destigmatizing mental health and providing resources to help teens overcome their struggles. Menante shared her personal experience with losing a childhood friend to suicide in freshman year, which motivated her to become an advocate for mental health within schools.
Addison Clark, another Co-chair, highlighted the challenges that many teens face when finding balance between school, social life and utilizing tools that work best for them. Isolation was identified as another significant challenge for teenagers, with the emphasis on understanding that they are not alone and that there are organizations dedicated to helping them with their struggles.
Hope Means Nevada and The Children’s Cabinet are hosting an event at the Discovery Museum’s Mind Matters Exhibit on Friday to raise awareness for mental health resources for teens. The event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., featuring Teen Night Out 2024 (nvdm.org).
