Mental health symposium addresses growing mental health needs in Chelan and Douglas counties
Our Valley Our Future and Thriving Together NCW, two community-building nonprofit organizations, hosted a symposium focusing on mental health last Thursday at the Wenatchee Valley College Maguire Center.
The event, called “Mental Health Literacy through Community Collaboration,” filled the day with presentations and the opportunity for people to network.
Speakers discussed the need to normalize conversations around mental health and to approach it as an individual and community responsibility.
Teresa Posakony, founder of Emerging Wisdom LLC, spoke about stress and trauma affecting families across the region, particularly immigrant and bilingual communities. She described mental health as closely connected to physical well-being and a sense of belonging, and encouraged participants to view the body and brain as an interconnected system.
Posakony highlighted practices such as movement, breathing and co-regulation of the process of calming and stabilizing through connection with others as tools that can help people manage stress across the lifespan. She said building these skills early can support long-term physical and mental health, while also noting that it is never too late to learn them.
Youth mental health data and school-based prevention efforts were also a focus of the symposium.
Pete Teigen, executive director of Together for Youth, shared findings from the Healthy Youth Survey, a statewide survey conducted every two years among students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades. The survey measures topics ranging from substance use to mental health and well-being.
Tiegen presented data from Chelan and Douglas counties that show significant numbers of students reporting prolonged feelings of sadness or hopelessness, as well as thoughts of suicide. He described the data as sobering and said it underscores the need for coordinated prevention and early intervention.
Together for Youth works with schools and community coalitions to implement evidence-based programs focused on mental health, suicide prevention and substance use prevention. Tiegen highlighted several initiatives used locally, including peer-to-peer mentoring, school-based mental health clubs and programs that promote social connection and reduce isolation among youth.
He also pointed to the importance of talking directly with young people about suicide and mental health, noting that research shows open conversations do not increase risk and can help connect students to support.
Organizers said the symposium brought together educators, health providers, nonprofit staff and community members to share information, build partnerships and strengthen local responses to growing mental health needs across Chelan and Douglas counties.
Reneé Diaz may be contacted at Renee.diaz@wenatcheeworld.com. Collaborative reporting by The Wenatchee World, NWPB and Murrow College of Communication Newsroom Fellowship.