Are you a student and feel like adults don’t understand you and won’t listen to you? Do you have friends who are struggling and you don’t know how to help? Are you a parent seeing that your child is depressed but you don’t know how to help her move forward? You are not alone. In California, 12% of youth reported at least one major depressive episode in the last year. In San Mateo County, we have some of the highest rates of teen hospitalizations for mental health-related issues in the state.

Please join Congresswoman Speier, students, school administrators, and mental health professionals for a panel conversation titled “Learning to Listen - Youth Perspectives on Mental Health.”

You will hear from the following panelists:

• Vivian Valdez, Senior at Hillsdale High School

• Fennel Schubert, Freshman at City College

• April Torres, Manager of Mental Health Services at San Mateo Union High School District

• Michelle Levine, Principal and Former Director of Counseling at St. Ignatius College Preparatory

• Dr. Shashank V. Joshi, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Professor at Stanford University

Studies have shown negative trends in mental health outcomes among youth across the country. Harmful public rhetoric, pervasive stigma, and a lack of understanding of mental health further compound these issues and can isolate young people in their greatest moments of need.

At this event, we want to focus on solutions and available resources. We are fortunate to live in a community that cares deeply about our kids and values the inclusion of youth voices in decision-making. Advocates and professionals are working hard to address young people’s social and emotional needs and turn these negative trends around. To better understand the drivers of poor mental health and to ensure our programs and policies are meeting their goals, we must first listen to, and learn from, the young people who are living the experience.

All students and their families are invited to attend this important event, ask questions and connect with a wide range of mental health and wellness resources.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for resource tabling, sign-ins, and a youth photo display. The panel conversation will start at 7 p.m.

Please register one person per RSVP.