SHARPSBURG, Pa. —A local mental health group called Listen Lucy is hosting Camp Lucy in Sharpsburg. It's a free conference helping middle schoolers with their mental health issues.William Cline is a student and said, "It's pretty motivational and it's like practicing how to have success in life."The founder and CEO of the organization Listen Lucy, Jordan Corcoran, said she hosts assemblies around the country, sharing her story about dealing with mental health.Now, she wants to use ...
SHARPSBURG, Pa. —
A local mental health group called Listen Lucy is hosting Camp Lucy in Sharpsburg. It's a free conference helping middle schoolers with their mental health issues.
William Cline is a student and said, "It's pretty motivational and it's like practicing how to have success in life."
The founder and CEO of the organization Listen Lucy, Jordan Corcoran, said she hosts assemblies around the country, sharing her story about dealing with mental health.
Now, she wants to use her experience to help middle schoolers in the Pittsburgh area.
Corcoran said, "There's such a need for this because we are in the middle of a mental health crisis, and it has been going on for a few years now, and we are seeing it statistically showing up — suicide is the second leading cause of death in kids ages 10 to 14."
Kids learn things like breathing techniques, nourishing their bodies, prioritizing exercising, hygiene and self-care.
Evan Crawford is a student and said, "It's definitely helping me out a lot because I'm not having to use any coping skills or anything like that."
This year's theme for Camp Lucy is "Digital Wellness and Building Self-Confidence," which focuses on understanding the negative impacts of social media.
Danielle Matus is a school guidance counselor and said, "It's important for them to be able to come and express themselves, be around other kids their age and realize they are going through in these preteen years is exactly what everybody else is going through in every other school around. "
The day is packed with speakers and interactive workshops and gives kids real solutions for coping with anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns.
Corcoran said, "Kids are going through very similar things that adults are going through. I think that everything is relative so their feelings, their emotions; they are big. They feel anxiety, they feel depression, they feel overwhelmed, so being able to have them come here and share those emotions with us and tell us what they are going through and, in turn, help them get those coping techniques."
This is the second Camp Lucy, and the organizers say they are planning for another one for next year.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or sending a text message to 988, or you can chat online here.