CMSD Teens tackle mental health at City’s Youth Summit
Mental Health was one of the main topics of discussion at the Cleveland Youth Summit hosted by Mayor Justin Bibb at the East Professional Center on Tuesday, October 24th.
During a panel discussion moderated by Mayor Bibb and Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II, four students from Cleveland High School for Digital Arts answered questions centered around mental health.
Newsome asked the students “what can be done help youth manage their emotions?”
“I think each school should have a teacher or someone youth can talk to you,” said Alana, a Digital Arts 12th grader.
Digital Arts students formed a grief group in November of 2022 after sophomore Jaiden Rentas, 15, was found shot on Cleveland’s near Westside. Another Digital Arts student, 10th grader Pierre Davis, died due to gun violence this past July.
Students say having an outlet to talk about their feelings and mental health has helped them cope with losing loved ones or friends.
At the end of the discussion, Mayor Bibb told the students he wants to create a safe space for children of Cleveland to focus on their mental health. He said he also will seek to provide more training for teachers and city workers so they can be a mental health resource for students.
Shaniya, a senior at Digital Arts, said the panel discussion was a great opportunity to shed light on mental health and teens.
“It was great to speak with not only with the mayor but with other teens about their mental health and offer tips when they are feeling down,” she said.
Close to 300 students from CMSD high schools and private schools attended the summit. Other topics discussed during the daylong event included financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career development.