LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Several young adults have taken the step to become a mental health ambassador, just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month.
The Youth Connect for Mental Health organization has provided an eight month program that trains these teens to identify the signs of depression and how to help those dealing with it. The program is taught by licensed clinical therapists focusing on social emotional learning, emotional intelligence and peer support strategies.
These newly certified mental health ambassadors are eager to help others.
"Mental health is really tricky to look upon, but really how I go about it is I just check up on people," said Somiala Johnson. "I just say, 'Hey, how are you doing mentally?' and usually that opens up a lot of people, just asking how they're doing."
"I use our educational program to help talk to other people, because I'm an ambassador - now I have to know my resources, especially at my school, because that's where I am most of the time, and so I have to know how to help other people, how to connect them to different resources, and how to be that person that they need whenever they need help," said Sophia Behrens.
The ambassadors will become peer navigators, youth advocates and public speakers to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
