Mind Matters Event talks about tough subjects to help struggling students and their families

TRENTON, Mich. - April 25, 2023 - PRLog -- The second Mind Matters Day organized by THS social work staff Melanie Richardson, took place with a Trenton Educational Foundation grant in February. It was geared toward every student in the high school offering education, awareness and guidance to reach out if needed.

Mind matters day began with a high-profile motivational speaker, Phillip Barbb. Phillip A. Barbb is a two-time Emmy®-nominated TV Producer and a performance coach. With over thirteen years of sobriety from drugs and alcohol, Phillip Andrew Barbb works with sober executives to navigate a social and peer pressure laden business world. In his spare time, he works with inmates in the Los Angeles County Jail System struggling with substance abuse issues.

Trenton students were able to attend four breakout sessions that they preselected from thirty-seven choices during this day-long event. These breakout sessions included topics such as anxiety, depression, suicide awareness, anger management, yoga and art therapy to name a few. Students ended the day with a brief survey to evaluate the day and gather feedback for  mental health initiatives.

Student Marie, attended a ADHD program and said, "It was a program about me, it was fun to really be heard."

According to a survey recently done by NAMI, in 2022 teens wanted schools to play a bigger role in their mental health. This event is a great opportunity to reach all students to help reduce the stigma of talking about mental health and to offer students information that could be lifesaving.

TEF President Eric French said, "Mind Matters was a needed program to address the mental health needs of students. Not only were there workshops on mental health, anxiety, drug abuse, and stress, other workshops dealt with how to cope with these issues by using yoga, meditation, reading, and art. All in all, it was an engaging program and the TEF was glad to support and take part in it." For more TEF grant information https://www.trentonedfoundation.org