The La Crescent community is taking steps to provide mental health resources to its students and community.
LA CRESCENT, Minn. (WXOW) — The La Crescent community is taking steps to provide mental health resources to its students and community.
La Crescent-Hokah High School is partnering up with the non-profit Aiden’s Light for an all-day event at the High School for students in grades 7-12.
There will be a movie screening, a speaker, discussions, and the students will engage in mental health and wellness activities.
“If you look at all the research regarding mental health, the one thing that helps mental health is to talk about mental health,” La Crescent-Hokah High School Principal Jacob Feldman said. “Pretending it doesn’t exist, or saying, ‘well, just go deal with that yourself’ — those things don’t work. If you want to address mental health, you need to talk about mental health.”
That event will take place during the school day for these students.
In the evening, the focus shifts to the broader community with a mental health awareness event.
Area Organizations and non-profits will set up tables, showing residents resources offered in the community.
The goal is to foster open conversations around mental health, while reducing the stigma.
One of the non-profits involved is Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center (HVMHC).
Every year, they host an event called ‘Bringing Light Into Darkness’ and thought this would be a great fit.
“It’s a great way for parents to understand exactly what their kids are going through and what they’re experiencing,” HVMHC Marketing & Communications Specialist Ryan Buhler said. “It’s also great for other community members. Mental health awareness isn’t something that affects just one person – it affects all of us at every day.”
The event features a screening of “My Ascension,” a film about a young woman’s journey after surviving a suicide attempt.
Due to the community’s support of this wellness day, they are able to bring Emma Benoit to La Crescent to be a part of the panel discussion with other experts and individuals with lived experiences.
While the events are appropriate for kids 12 and up, organizers say to use your best judgement to decide if your child is old enough for these topics.
The free event takes place Wednesday, April 9.
The meal, also free, starts at 5 p.m. in the high school cafeteria and the screening and discussion in the auditorium starts at 6 p.m. The event is expected to wrap up around 8:30 p.m.
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