SPOKANE, Wash.– Talking about mental health can be challenging, especially among boys and young men.
But a local organization is hoping to start that conversation and potentially save lives.
Kellen Cares was founded by Kimber Erickson and her husband Mike after their son Kellen died by suicide when he was 19.
Since then, they’ve spent countless hours learning about the issues around mental health and why they specifically impact men.
Numbers from the National Center of Health Statistics indicate men are much more likely to die from suicide, or by overdose.
“People think that men and boys just have it going on. They have that patriarchy, what’s the problem?” Kimber Erickson said, “but if you look at the statistics, men and boys are struggling in so many different ways.”
Kellen Cares hosts several kinds of events to educate people about mental health and substance abuse.
It’ll host a documentary viewing of ‘Gone Guys’ on Monday alongside the Ferris Hope Squad.
It highlights the data and stories of men who have struggled with isolation and loneliness.
“We have the vice president at Ferris High School, we have a counselor at Sacajawea Middle School, a young man in his 20’s will be talking, so it’s just a good group of perspectives,” Erickson said.
The Ferris Hope Squad is co-hosting the event.
They’re one of over a dozen hope squads in eastern washington schools.
It gives kids a peer-mentoring group to talk about their mental health with.
Kalen Fairley, a behavioral health advocate with NEW ESD 101 said, “we’re so lucky to have hope squad in the schools that we do because youth mental health isn’t going away. It’s ever-expanding in our schools and with hope squad we’re able to do that peer-to-peer suicide prevention awareness.”
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