Denver Public Schools students celebrate Mental Health Action Day
In Denver Public Schools, Wednesday is Mental Health Action Day. Health experts are partnering with schools to help children who are feeling overwhelmed.
Students at Hamilton Middle School gathered for a day with Denver's creative community. There was music, slam poetry, and artists all with a focus on how art can help improve mental health.
Organizers told CBS News Colorado that the goal is to make sure students know that whatever struggles they face, they won't be doing it alone.
"What we hope the kids get out of this is really a sense of self-confidence, a sense of knowing that there are trusted adults out there they can turn to, and that they develop the resiliency that they will be facing issues in high school and otherwise that are affecting mental health and as we emerge from COVID those issues continue to grow and we're hoping the kids realize there is hope out there as they transition from high school and beyond," said Rick Padilla, suicide prevention administrator with the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.
There are resources and services available such as behavioral health screenings, peer support and navigation.
Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that health officials provided fentanyl testing kits, Narcan and some basic items at this event, which is not the case. The Department of Public Health & Environment wrote that "our department does provide those resources to our community, these were not distributed at this event." They said resources "like Narcan and fentanyl testing strips can be found at our Wellness Winnie stops or requested online."
