As conversations around mental health continue to grow in urgency, area organizations are inviting Allen County residents to gather, listen and talk openly about issues that touch nearly every household.
Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center (SEKMHC), in partnership with Rural Health Initiative (RHI), Thrive Allen County and the county’s Zero Reasons Why clubs, will host a Community Mental Health Forum on Thursday, April 30, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Iola High School Science Center, 300 E. Jackson Ave.
The event is part of SEKMHC’s annual planning and comes just ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month in May. The timing of the event is intended to help encourage residents to begin thinking more intentionally about mental health and how it affects their daily lives.
THIS YEAR’S theme, “combating loneliness through community,” reflects a growing concern about isolation across all age groups. Travis Buck, Children’s Case Manager and Peer Mentor Lead at SEKMHC, said the goal is for attendees to recognize how common loneliness can be and to consider simple ways to reconnect.
“Loneliness is all around us all the time,” Buck said, noting that stepping away from social media, spending time outdoors or getting involved locally can help people feel more connected.
Buck said the aim is to create an environment where conversations about mental health feel more normal and approachable, so that seeking help is seen as a positive step rather than a sign of weakness.
“We’re trying to break that stigma that surrounds mental health, especially amongst teens,” Buck said.
Students will play an active role in the evening through participation in a panel that includes both teens and adults, along with mental health professionals. The discussion will explore real-life scenarios, provide practical guidance and offer multiple perspectives on how to respond to mental health challenges.
REPRESENTATIVES from Allen County’s three Zero Reasons Why clubs — Mustangs for Mental Health in Iola, Cubs Against the Stigma in Humboldt and Moran’s club — are expected to take part. Many of the student panelists are involved in a countywide teen council and are already leaders within their schools.
The peer-led nature of Zero Reasons Why is part of what makes the program effective, Buck noted. Students are often more comfortable opening up to one another, and the clubs create space for those conversations while encouraging members to look out for their peers.
The need for those efforts has become increasingly clear in recent years, as communities across the county have been impacted by teen suicides. According to the most recent information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 24 in Kansas.
“It’s so hard to be a kid in today’s day and age compared to 20 years ago,” said Buck. “We want to have an open dialogue so that teens, and adults alike, feel comfortable in saying, ‘I know everything looks fine on the outside, but it’s not fine on the inside.’”
Buck said having visible, youth-driven support systems like the Zero Reasons Why clubs helps reinforce the important message to young people that they are not alone in their struggles.
IN ADDITION to the panel discussion, several organizations will provide information and resources during the event. Planned participants include Beacon for Hope, a representative from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and the 988 crisis line, along with SEKMHC staff and Zero Reasons Why groups.
Attendees will also hear about local services and how to access them. Buck said he wants to ensure that anyone who leaves the forum feeling the need for support knows where to turn.
The event is open to the public, and Buck encourages a wide range of attendees, including students, parents, educators and community members. While the Zero Reasons Why initiative focuses on preventing teen suicide, the broader goal is to improve mental health outcomes for everyone in the community.
