Families invited to discuss issues related to mental health

EVERETT — A free event where kids and parents can learn more about coping with childhood mental health issues, from bullying to symptoms of depression and anxiety, is scheduled May 7 at Evergreen Middle School.

“The goal is reducing the stigma around mental health, especially among the youth in our communities,” said Heather Thomas, a spokeswoman for the Snohomish Health District, which helped organize the event.

Sixteen workshops will be offered at the Children and Youth Mental Wellness Fair. Topics include suicide prevention, parenting young children, building a better relationship with your teen, infant and toddler mental health, tips for helping parents with stress, and help for gay, lesbian and transgender teens.

Mental health issues affect children in a variety of ways, including their physical health, self-esteem, their progress in school and their risk of substance abuse.

“That’s where the focus is, prevention and being a resource for youth, families, or those in the community who want to help the youth of Snohomish County,” Thomas said.

The workshop’s goal is to try to help with some of the issues identified by local students in the 2014 Healthy Youth Survey. Nearly 30 percent of sixth-graders reported that they had been bullied in the previous 30 days and roughly one in four teens said they didn’t feel as if they had an adult they could turn to when they felt sad or hopeless.

Liza Patchen-Short, a children’s mental health liaison for the county’s Human Services Department, has been working for the past year with school districts and social service agencies to help students access mental health resources. The May 7 event is an outgrowth of that work.

Four of the event’s workshops are focused on relationships between infants and young children, including one on attachment and bonding, said Terry Clark, executive director of ChildStrive a nonprofit with offices in Everett and Lynnwood that focuses on early childhood development.

“For babies, their first relationship is with their parents,” which helps build the foundation for healthy relationships with everyone else in their lives, she said.

If something causes problems in the relationship, such as a parent with depression of their own, the parent isn’t reading the baby’s cues well. That can affect babies’ mental health and hinder their ability to form relationships, Clark said.

The Disney animated movie “Inside Out,” which deals with the emotions of sadness, fear, anger, disgust and joy, will be shown twice during the event. Afterward, there will be a short discussion about emotions and how to regulate them, Thomas said. A puppet story time for kids also has been scheduled.

The middle school’s two gyms will be filled with representatives from more than 90 organizations to provide information about where parents and children can get help with mental health, health care, counseling, parenting support groups, suicide prevention and healthy eating.

The event’s guest speaker will be Trent Shelton. The former Seahawk and player with other NFL teams is now a motivational speaker focusing on teens’ emotional challenges.

Photographers will be on hand to take free family photos. Local Girl Scout troops are making corsages to help celebrate Mother’s Day weekend. Everett Transit is offering free rides to the event.

Music will be provided by Casper Babypants, the children’s music artist Chris Ballew, who also was a member of the band The Presidents of the United States of America.

The May 7 event is the first in what is hoped will be an annual event focusing on children’s and teens’ mental health issues, Thomas said.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.

Families invited

A Children and Youth Mental Wellness Fair is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 7 at Evergreen Middle School, 7621 Beverly Lane in Everett. The event is free. For information go to tinyurl.com/SnoCoWellnessFair or call 425-388-7254.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.