News Summary
James City County will host a community event, “Unmasked,” focusing on youth mental health on September 23. Organized by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the event aims to foster discussions around mental health and provide resources for families with children aged 10 to 18. With support from various partners, including Colonial Behavioral Health Wellness and Bacon Street, the event features discussions and breakout sessions led by professionals to address pressing issues affecting youth mental health.
James City County will host a community event focused on youth mental health on September 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event, titled “Unmasked,” is organized by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Lambda Lambda Omega Chapter and coincides with National Suicide Prevention Month.
The event is set to take place at the James City County Recreation Center and is free of charge. It aims to foster open discussions about mental health and provide support resources for families, particularly those with children aged 10 to 18.
Partners supporting the event include Colonial Behavioral Health Wellness, Support and Recovery Services, and Bacon Street Youth and Family Services.
A prominent feature of the event will be a discussion led by Fallon Dodson, an assistant professor at Hampton University, addressing mental health and suicide data for youths in Hampton Roads and Virginia. Participants can also look forward to a teen panel discussion that will cover the various pressures associated with grades, extracurricular activities, and the impact of social media on youth mental health.
Breakout sessions will allow licensed healthcare providers to engage with youths and their caregivers separately, facilitating a more personal and focused dialogue surrounding these critical topics.
Kim Dellinger, executive director of Bacon Street Youth and Family Services, emphasized the necessity of raising awareness about mental health resources and tackling the stigma surrounding mental health issues. This event seeks to help attendees feel less isolated and to foster open conversations among families, particularly in Black and brown communities, where discussions about mental health can often be limited.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 14 and 15 to 24 as of May 2023. The rate of suicide among young people spiked during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 5,568 individuals aged 5-24 losing their lives to suicide during that period. Many experts assert that education and candid conversations about suicide are essential for prevention.
A number of sorority members have personal experiences involving suicide within their families, driving home the urgency for open dialogue on the topic. The organizers encourage discussions surrounding mental health, especially those affecting children and teenagers, as an important avenue to create a supportive environment.
For individuals facing immediate crisis situations, the event will highlight resources such as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 and the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
For further inquiries regarding “Unmasked,” interested individuals are encouraged to contact [email protected].
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Additional Resources
- Daily Press: Williamsburg Area Event on Youth Mental Health
- Fredericksburg Free Press: Youth Mental Health Task Force
- Daily Press: New Mental Health Facility Near Williamsburg
- Wikipedia: Mental Health
- Google Search: Youth Mental Health
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WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
