On Thursday, our Middle School parents were invited to attend a virtual presentation by CHADS Coalition about the important topic of adolescent mental health. The parent education event entitled “CHADS Coalition Presentation on Adolescent Mental Health: Signs of Suicide” was presented by Meg Johnson and focused on current trends in mental health, risk factors and warning signs for youth suicide, strategies to encourage students to seek help for themselves and others, as well as techniques to practice self-care.
What is CHADS Coalition? CHADS is an acronym that stands for Communities Healing Adolescent Depression and Suicide. Their mission is “to save young lives by advancing the awareness and prevention of depression and suicide.” The organization strives “to be the community leader in educating and supporting young people whose lives are impacted by suicidal thoughts, anxiety, and/or depression.” They have many programs and resources available to help those with mental health challenges.
The name CHAD also refers to an actual person. Chad McCord was a very active, involved teen, but he had a secret. Since 3rd grade, he never told anyone that he was facing depression. By the time he finally told someone at the age of 18, his challenges were so serious that they ultimately led to him committing suicide. Chad’s parents started CHADS Coalition with the hope of helping save the lives of other youth struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts through awareness, education, and support. Read Chad’s story here.
Here are some resources and additional information from CHADS Coalition: Overview and Parent Handout.
Thank you to Ms. Johnson and Ms. Walker for today’s very important parent education event. Remember, if you, your child, or someone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, we are here to help along with the resources listed above.