News Photo by Darby Hinkley Alpena Public Schools Superintendent Dave Rabbideau, standing at left, introduces panelists at Tuesday evening’s Mental Health Panel Discussion at the Alpena High School Auditorium. The event was held in honor of May being Mental Health Awareness Month. Representatives from The Sunset Project also presented at Tuesday’s event, honoring their friend and family member, Sawyer Boyd, who died by suicide in 2016.

ALPENA — Alpena Public Schools hosted a May is Mental Health Awareness Month panel discussion and presentation on Tuesday, with many knowledgeable community partners weighing in on the issue of mental health.

In addition to counselors from Alpena High School and Thunder Bay Junior High, panel members included representatives from Alcona Health Center, Alpena Community College, Alpena Montmorency Alcona Educational Service District, Catholic Human Services, District Health Department No. 4, MyMichigan Medical Center Alpena, Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health, Partners in Prevention, and Thunder Bay Community Health Services.

Alpena Public Schools Superintendent Dave Rabbideau introduced the 14 panel members and moderated the panel, asking predetermined questions, then taking questions from the audience.

Many resources and handouts were available at tables set up in the high school lobby before and after the program, and representatives were on hand to talk with attendees at each table.

“To me, it’s about talking about this topic, but also making people aware of all the amazing resources we have right here in our community,” Rabbideau said.

Panel members included Kelly Girard, health resource advocate for DHD No. 4, Renee Daoust, community health worker coordinator with DHD No. 4, Lori Vought, AHS counselor, Brandy Shooks, TBJH counselor, Nancy Kotwicki, outpatient therapist with MyMichigan Health Behavioral Health Services, Lisa Lenard, behavioral health therapist with Alcona Health Center, Dr. Adrienne Westphal, psychiatrist with Alcona Health Center, Mary Schalk, program coordinator for Partners in Prevention, Sarah Griffore, school social worker with AMA ESD, Larry LaCross, clinical supervisor of the Eastern Region of Catholic Human Services, Pam Knaffle, behavioral health director for Thunder Bay Community Health Services, Nena Sork, executive director for Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health, and Don MacMaster, president of ACC.

“This is definitely a much-needed educational opportunity in our communities,” Girard said. “Not just in Alpena, but across Michigan, and across the nation.”

In a recent survey of ACC students, “the students have said they felt pretty acute anxiety almost all the time,” MacMaster said, adding that they have contracted with a counselor who is available to meet with students. “It’s a big issue,” he said, and one they take very seriously.

Dr. Westphal and LaCross noted that while many people have diagnosed disorders, mental health is something that affects everyone. They noted that we all need to take care of ourselves and each other by not being afraid to ask for help, or asking a friend or family member if they’re struggling.

Panelists discussed the difficulties we have all faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and especially how those challenges have affected young people.

“Young people are struggling with emotions and feelings,” Schalk said. “They’re also feeling more hopeless – less power to do anything. I think we’ve just had this negative cloud over all of us, and they don’t recognize that there are things that they can do.”

She added that they may be feeling more isolated and disconnected, despite being on their phones all the time. They need human interaction and connection, as well as support from their parents, teachers, and other adults in their lives.

One panelist noted that just 15 minutes per day of casual conversation with your child can improve their outlook on life and help them cope with daily stressors. As parents, we often direct our children to keep them on task, but sometimes they just need us to listen.

The panel discussed the impact of social media on young people, and while bullying and negativity were covered, a student in the audience noted in a question that it can be used in a positive way as an opportunity to connect with like-minded friends and fellow students.

“One of the things we try to do is get kids involved as much as possible,” Vought said. “So, for those who are not in sports, get them in a group, get them to volunteer, something to get them away from their phones and out amongst their peers, and, kind of, regain some of those communication skills which we know they lost some of that through the COVID period.”

LaCross said more young people are showing signs of trauma and adverse experiences. He pointed to a recent study that showed “a dramatic rise in things like depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, but just in the subset of younger people, adolescent to early 20s. And that hit about 12 or 15 years ago, and it just kept going up.”

He said things that promote resilience are “positive social connections, time to unplug, time to rest, getting enough sleep, time in nature, physical activity, connection to community organizations, having multiple adults in the child’s life who believes in them and supports them, having stable families and stable parents at home.”

If you are worried about yourself, a friend, a family member, a fellow student or coworker, watch for signs such as withdrawing from previously enjoyed activities, isolation, changes in sleep habits (sleeping too much or too little), losing or gaining weight quickly, substance abuse, and a decrease in performance levels at school or work.

After the panel discussion, which was live streamed and is available to view online at alpenaschools.com, representatives from The Sunset Project spoke and presented a slide show and video titled “Ending the Silence,” in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Grand Traverse. The presentation was given to AHS students the following day, and is also available to watch on the school district’s website.

The Sunset Project was established after 18-year-old Sawyer Boyd died by suicide in 2016. On Tuesday, his mom, Amy Swinson, his sister, Maddy Boyd, and his friend, Kevin O’Brien spoke fondly of Sawyer.

“Sawyer was a beautiful soul,” Swinson said. “He made life fun, and filled it with his humor. I miss his jokes, and how he made me laugh. I miss his smile. I miss him so much.”

Swinson told parents to talk to their children and support them.

“We need them,” she said. “Life is hard, but living is worth it … We need to remind them to keep living this beautiful life.”

She urged others to pay attention to warning signs of those who may be struggling, and encouraged anyone struggling to reach out for help.

“We need to end the stigma that we shouldn’t talk about our mental health,” Swinson said. “We need to stop thinking no one will understand, or will judge us, and think we are weak. We need to end the silence. It ends, right now.”

Help is available 24 hours a day to anyone who feels their mental health issues are overwhelming or leading to suicidal thoughts or ideation. Call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.