Marin County Youth Art and Film Showcased to Prevent Suicide

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For many, art is an elixir that helps to heal. Expression can help people through difficult times as well as bring hope and inspiration to themselves and others. Young people in Marin County are now invited to share their creativity to increase awareness and conversation of youths’ perspectives on mental health and well-being expressed through art and film.

In honor of September Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month, the Marin County Mental Health Intern Team has organized a Youth Art and Film Showcase for Suicide Prevention, an in-person showcase of art and film submitted by Marin youth that will take place September 25.

An intern team is a group of Marin high school and college students who are strong advocates of peer mental health. Earlier this summer, in anticipation of Suicide Prevention and Recovery Month, they determined that an in-person event to showcase youth mental health art would be engaging and inspirational.

“The goal of our showcase is to bring the young community of Marin closer together through art and use it as a medium of creative expression to help others who are suffering,” explained Preston Lee, a team member, high school senior, and videographer from Tiburon. “So many people endure hardship under the radar. When I first got exposed to how many people in my life struggled, it inspired me to advocate for such a prevalent issue in my community.”

The submissions deadline is September 22, and the showcase will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, September 25, at the Marin Health and Wellness campus at 3240 Kerner Boulevard in San Rafael. Attendees will be required to be masked to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. During the event, a panel of youth artists chosen by the program team will discuss their submissions’ perspectives about or experiences with mental health. Submitted art will also be showcased digitally on the project website.

“If you ask those who have struggled with psychological or emotional pain, many will mention that the connection and support of their neighbors and loved ones were critical for their recovery,” said Kara Connors, senior program coordinator for the County’s Suicide Prevention Collaborative. “With each piece of artwork submitted, these youth are sending a powerful message that stigma has no place in Marin and that as a community, we can talk about mental health and suicide in open and direct ways.”

The Mental Health Interns are aware of stressful issues among their peers and methods to address them.

“Sometimes kids talk about suicide online in a casual way that might not be taken seriously,” said Scarlett Goh, a team member and high school junior from Mill Valley. “Or, some kids are afraid to reach out for help if they see others ‘joking’ about suicide. I think one way we can help create action through social media is for everyone to share the Crisis Text Line (text MARIN to 741741) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) and to help get the word out. At the end of the day, we just want to keep each other safe.”

For youth who express personal struggles, Lee creates videos on the sensitive subject of mental health and suicide prevention.

“Every day I continue to strive and help my peers through offering them support and using my creative abilities in filmmaking to spread the message that you are never alone, and there are people out there to help,” he said.

Submitting artists must be 25 years old or younger and either attend a school or live in Marin County. Art forms of all kinds are welcome, including but not limited to photography, digital art, painting, drawing, poetry, dance, and video. Submission information and forms are available on the Youth Art and Film Showcase page. For physical art, there are nine drop-off locations at Marin County Free Library branches and the Marin Health and Wellness Campus.

Locally, the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees government-funded behavioral health and recovery services. If you or someone you know is in mental health distress, find resources on BHRSPrevention.org or contact:
Marin Suicide Prevention Hotline: (415) 499-1100
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1 (800) 273-8255 y en Español: 1 (888) 628-9454
The Trevor Lifeline: 1 (866) 488-7386
Friendship Line (for 60 and older): 1 (800) 971-0016
Crisis Text Line: Text MARIN to 741741

Learn more at www.marinhhs.org.

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