Youth Mental Health Summit Held April 24 at College of DuPage

On April 24, the DuPage County Health Department, the Prevention Leadership Team, and KidsMatter welcomed Dr. Joanna Williams, Senior Director of Research at Search Institute, and a panel of local practitioners to discuss the relatively high rate of depression and other mental health issues in young people and how local organizations can help young people thrive. We are also grateful for the support of the event provided by Endeavor Health-Linden Oaks Hospital and DuPage Foundation. Lori Carnahan, Deputy Director of Behavioral Health, DuPage County Health Department, and Michael Cabonargi, Great Lakes Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services kicked off the event. Search Institute partners with organizations to conduct and apply research that promotes positive youth development and advances equity. In her keynote address, Dr. Williams emphasized that “developmental relationships” at home, school or in the community can help kids find their identity and purpose and help them be resilient to stress in their lives. Presenters on the panel followed with results of local research and creative ways they are encouraging resiliency and supporting positive developmental relationships in their work with youth.

Other speakers included the following:

• Jordan Esser, Community Initiatives Coordinator for the DuPage County Health Department
• Ryan Lauterwasser, Manager for Inpatient Services at Endeavor Health-Linden Oaks Hospital
• Annie Jones, DuPage County Regional Office of Education Team Lead in the Truancy and Attendance Department
• Kendra Trummer, Teen Ambassador from Glenbard East High School
• Students from Scullen Middle School who formed the Shanti Club to support mental health

More than 130 individuals from the DuPage County area attended the summit, representing schools, local and state governments, and youth-serving organizations.

This event and related services are funded in full or in part through a state opioid response grant (TI083278) to the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This event was supported by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award funded by ONDCP. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor and endorsement by, ONDCP, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government. Funding provided in part or in whole by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The event is also sponsored by KidsMatter with support from grants from Endeavor Health-Linden Oaks Hospital and DuPage Foundation.