Keith The young of today face issues their parents and grandparents did not.

Mass shootings, unprecedented political division, global warming, urban violence, which takes its toll disproportionately among the young.

Cyberbullying.

And the highest rate in teen suicide in years.

Teen suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people ages 10 to 14 and the third leadin cause of death in ages 15 to 24.

Some 20% of high school students polled say they have had thoughts of suicide and 9% say they have attempted it.

There should not be that much despair among those so young.

I met with six student from Washington, local schools in Toledo, who themselves experience the trauma of an active shoote and a high school football game.

Lea: So on October 7th, 2022, our school faced a very big security threat and one of our students was shot.

I was par of the band and all you heard, we thought it was fireworks because it was a big game.

We played Central Catholic.

Everyone was excited fo the game, like we had a pep band game and it was it was a lot of fun.

It was a Friday night football game, and for so many of our band members, our cheerleaders, our students are community.

It was a safe place.

And then the shooting happene and all I could hear was my band director saying, Just run, drop your instruments, your music, run the Monday after school, after that shooting and on social media was horrendous.

Anaya: So in my personal experience, I was standing on the front in the stands.

I was against the fence and all I could hear was just like i sounded like a stampede running.

So when I turned to look, everyone was just running on the stands.

I couldn't hear anything.

I didn't hear the gunshots go off, but I was pushed directly onto the ground because of everyone running and trampling on the stands.

And I had a friend who was starting to run and turned around and saw me on the ground and he pulled me up.

And then we jumped directly down off the stand and just ran across the field, just running.

I didn't know what to do, who to help.

My friends were on the ground.

I couldn't help.

I just knew I had to get out.

And running was like, It's just so craz because you're looking around.

You don't know what to do.

You don't know where you're going because you don't know where it came from.

You don't know the safe space to go to.

Keith: And the rest of you think.

Quinlan: Well, from my experience of that night, I was just sitting there with my friends watching the game and kind of zoned out for a second.

And I, like, got pushed over because like a whole lot of people were just running and I heard the Pops, bu I didn't think anything of it.

And one of my friends told me, they're like, Somebody's shooting.

So I started running with the crow and they were all kind of like crammed at the left side of the student section.

And I my first instinc was to just get somewhere safe.

Ashia: I know most people spent their night that night calling everyone and... Keith: Everyone they knew.

Ashia: Yeah.

And he is 13 probably 12 at the time where he he had it's just wrong for him to feel that way.

He was terrified.

Said he's so young.

Lea: think with the increase of urban violence and gun violence that we've seen, especially in our communities, we are concerned because the statistics are not lying.

You know, we went through a school shooting and that's not something that I thought I ever would be able to say.

But now the fact that I am able to say it is scary and it shouldn't have become the normal.

Keith: Do you all feel personally anxious or sort of anxious for the society again?

Ashia: Yes, I think it's more we're anxious for everyone and a whol especially we see it happening, getting children getting hurt, which is sad as it is.

Anaya: I mean, although i shouldn't happen to any of us.

I mean, our younger kids like they shouldn't have to go through that at all.

Like that's it's a lot to deal with, especially at a young age like this.

And it's a lot to deal with for anyone.

Lea: But like, ho sad is it that we are teaching five year olds to cover their desks and how to hide and how to you know, do a lockdown drill?

You know, I babysit quite frequently and these five year olds are learning this in preschool.

What has our society come to that?

This is needed and it's sad and it's frightening.

And I feel for the five year olds because they do not need to know this.

We do not need to know this.

Keith: I mean, you guy should not be dealing with this.

So my generation than the one after failed.

I want to ask you about a second issue that you guys face.

There's all this research now on depression and self-harming among younger people.

What do you think about that?

Why why is that problem there and what's your feeling about how to deal with it?

I think it was still a prevalent as an issue as it was 25 years ago.

Just it was very stigmatized and it was taboo.

Same with a lot of other topics.

And I think that our society for so long has pushed on mental health.

Keith What do the rest of you think?

Quinlan I feel like like the bullying, the cyber bullying online, it needs to stop.

Yeah, because that's a big part of like why students are, like, depressed and I feel like they just need to and yeah.

Keith How did it get so out of hand?

Ashia: I think a lot of it stems from family life.

Like you don't feel good at home.

Like I know in elementary school they say if someone's bullying you, it's probably because they have stuff going on at home.

And I think that is a big thing, cause then I think we should stop it there.

We should help those kid who are having trouble at home and then they could become friends with others and just, yeah, I got bullied in elementary school, but I think it's like no really sensitive topic for me.

Keith: So and so you got bullied, but you, you felt you had enough of a support system to withstand it.

Yeah.

And some people don't.

Anaya: I think a lot of it has to do with like not having like a home and your home isn' really where you sleep or like where your family is.

Keith: I wanted to ge some perspective on the issues the students raised from a professional.

I arranged to meet with psychiatrist Dr. Rajeev Parisa of Mercy Health to find out about mental health triggers and stressors that youth today face.

And so Dr.

I thought we might start with how is it different to be a teen in America today in terms of mental health and health in general versus 25, 30 years ago?

Dr. Paringa: That's a that's a very interesting question.

And we know that it is different to be a teen today.

And one of the thing that we are very concerned about is that teen well-bein is much worse today than it was.

And we have so many data points which tell us that things are not going so well for the teen in America today as they were, you know, over a decade ago.

For example, the numbe of people turning up to an E.R.

with a suicide attempt who are under 18 that have gone up to potentially just tripled in a period a little over ten years.

Keith: Is there a distinctio between the sort of depression, quasi epidemic and addiction problems?

Are they sort of separate issues?

Do they overlap?

Dr. Paringa: They do overlap.

People who have depression.

They're not feeling too great.

They are looking for something to help them get out of that state of distress, depression and, you know the lack of enjoyment of life.

And they may begin to experiment with drugs.

Sometimes people begin to experiment with drugs under the influence of their peers or for other reasons, and that we know worsens depression and makes you more vulnerable to mental health problems.

And one of my concerns is that there seems to be a misconception generally and probably more so among younger people that if you can fix how you're feelin by taking a recreational drug, that is okay and that is a good thing, and that if you feel better, then that must be right because you have treated the problem.

Keith: So marijuana, for example, is not so benign as it may be perceived by especially the younger population.

Dr. Paringa: That is correct.

You know, it never fails.

It surprised me when I'm interviewing people and I'm if I'm asking this question of somebod who is over 60 and, you know, do you ever use recreational drugs?

And most people would say no, and they would say no.

You know, almost to the surprised tha you're asking me this question.

But when I'm asking this question of younger people, you know, peopl who are under 25, more than half the time, they would be using it and they would very often thin that that is perfectly normal.

But for conditions like depression and anxiety, marijuan can definitely give you symptom relief when you start using it, but it worsens mental health down the road because of the way in which it acts.

And, you know, I try a lot of analogies with my patients to kind of explain to them why that is the case.

And sometimes they recognize this and say, you know, I know what you're saying, but an example would be, you know, if you were training for a race and you like that for and a friend comes by and says, you know, you don't need to run anymore, just get in the car.

I'll take you to the end of the line.

And you say, Oh my God, they feel so much better.

Thank you.

Now, you know that when you do that, you are not training anymore, right?

But you feel better.

And if you make it a habit, I'll think, Well, next time I'm just going to drive.

Drive the course in a car and you keep doing that, you will gradually become less fit, not more.

Keith: Do you?

How do you feel about this whole kind of million dollar question?

I mean, at the end of the day, why why would so many teens be depressed?

Is it the state of the world?

Is it social media?

I know it's not any one thing.

Dr. Paringa: It isn't.

You know, when we have something this complex, there are many reasons.

It's hard to know which one of them is playing the biggest role.

But I think in my mind, the biggest suspect here is technology.

And social media is one big piece of it.

But if you think about it, we live in a time where it is easier to keep yourself entertained while sitting down than ever before.

The increased use of technology harms mental health in many different ways.

So if you think about it, we are moving less.

And, you know I think we are designed to move at a certain level, which is important for both our physical and mental health.

The social media piece is important because that is changing the information that kids receive about their peers.

But now it appears on social media when people put out information only about the most positive aspects of their life, that everybody's life is just wonderful.

And I my life, when I kno all about it, just seems to be while you know, it's not going so well.

Keith So you think even if a person's not being bullied or harassed by social media, social media in itself is sort of alienating and and technology itself is alienating?

Dr. Paringa: I think it is.

I think the cyber bullying piece is an important component, but I don't think that everybody who have mental health of words is being bullied.

I think it is just the way information is coming at us and the way we're interpreting it, which makes it feel that everybody's life is better.

And, you know, we want to have the sens that we are kind of doing okay.

We get our sense of self-worth and we get validation from the society around us.

And then everybody else seems to be doing better, that if that makes us fee that something is wrong with us and that can be depressing, it can be anxiety provoking.

Keith: So if you could wave a magic wand, what what do we do about all this?

Dr. Paringa: So I think, you know, we are designed to be in good health when we do certain things.

And if you think about physical health, we have some understanding of that.

So that recognition that I love sugar and I love fat, but I can't be eating that all the time because that's not how I'm designed.

If I d that, it's works for my health.

I think if we had the sam recognition for mental health, we could change how we interact with our peers, how we relate to the world around us in a way that our mental health is better.

So for young people, I would say, you know, social media have become such an integral part of how they interact with each other that you cannot let go of it.

But where there's a possibility spend more time meeting people face to face and, you know, do things together, which requires you to be physically active, play sports you know, golf, go for it, run and do activities togethe that require you to be moving.

That would help and also recognize that, you know, nobody really puts out information on social media, which tells you the whole picture.

We are always, always trying to giv a good impression of ourselves.

And when you're only getting information on social media, that isn't the complete picture.

And when we know that you mayb feel less distressed about it.

Keith: Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, thank you so much for speaking with us.

You walk fascinating.

So how t help young people find purpose.

I met with civil rights an labor leader Valdemar Velasquez about a program his farm labor organizing committee has organized for city youth.

He calls it the Floc Homies Union.

The emphasis is on self-worth and empowerment.

So all of them are your labor leader, civil rights leader in the nation, even in the world.

But you also live in Toledo.

So how did you come to start the homies and what was the idea behind them?

Baldemar: Well, the program essentially fell in our lap, but an organizer is always looking for an opportunity to bring people together, particularly those peopl that are on the margins of life.

And we've always had a core of people here in the heart of the Latino community in Toledo in the South, there' what they call the old South in the roots of many families are here now.

They're spread all over the city.

The kids, the grandkids.

But it was all started here.

And so we've alway had a pocket of followers here.

Many of them are former migrant workers that worked in the fields.

And so a mom came to us, said, can can my kids hang on in your office for a couple of hours after school?

Because I don't want them wandering in the streets after school.

Keith: That's how it started Baldemar: That's how it started.

So they invited some of their friends and and pretty soon thos friends invited other friends.

And pretty soo we had a dozen of them, then 15, then 20 oh, hanging out there.

And I told her, volunteer, why don't we do something with them?

Why don't we start having some discussions on conflict resolution, how to negotiate a win-win situation the principles of non-violence.

Because we knew the gang issues, the gang problems and so on.

So the homies have spurred a lot of grassroots activity.

So now we're working, interacting with adults and trying to take on some of the more troubling issues you're setting.

Keith: Young people who are not from a privileged background, but sometimes have a tough background.

You're teaching them how to organize, how to change the community.

Baldemar: Well, yeah, The good thing about this program with job and family Services is that it's not only employment readiness, it's engaging young people and giving them a purpose.

Yeah.

And when they start addressing some concrete things, they find a purpos in their life and it helps them make different choices in life.

So instead of making wrong choices, we don't tell them that.

We don't tell them, you know, don't join gangs, don't do this, don't do that.

We just engage them.

And giving them some constructive things to ventilate their maybe their anger, their... their... whatever.

And and hopefully they make better choices.

And we've seen some success in that with the kids.

Keith: So you don't teach - you empower?

Baldemar: Well, it's like you don't preach.

No, we don't know.

We just say you know what bothers you when you get out of bed in the morning?

The challenge and bag is, well, I don't like this that and I won't do something about it.

And it's nice.

It's no use.

You know what I said?

Well, then you must like it.

So what do you mean I don't like it?

Well, you like it because you put up with it.

So we challenge them back.

And if you want to do something, you come, you know, I'll help you.

Because when you tal about violence and shootings and gangs, things like that, well, that's going to come out of thes very impoverished neighborhoods.

And you got to reach thos folks, you know, engage them in, you know, get them to share what's on their heart and what's on their mind, especially the kids and because you get the kids and then you reach the parents through the kids.

So we have a two pronged effort with the program, not only the kids, when we try to reach to the families, sorry, you can't help the kids unless you help the family.

Keith: So I wanted to know more about how the program works.

So I spoke with a graduate.

I say a break.

So Isaiah, you're a graduate of the Homies program.

What did wha did the home reunion do for you?

What did it how did change your life?

Isaiah: I'll start off by saying it.

Well, honey, she told me you have to be with a group of people.

You cannot get so much done alone.

But you're better together.

Two or three are stronger than just a few alone.

So, yeah, that's one big thing the homies showed me.

Keith: Does a program like that address what's going on with young people in a city and a city?

Is it a correction for is it an answer for poverty, crime or whatever?

Loneliness, isolation?

Does it help with that?

Or is it more like a practical skills thing?

Isaiah: I would say it's both.

I wouldn't say it's the answer, but if you apply yourself to the program, you'll get directions to your answer.

They're not going to solve your life's biggest problems, but you'll definitely get a sense of belonging and direction and purpose.

Really.

Keith: If you were talking to a younger person trying to tell them, Hey, give this a try, what would be your pitch?

Isaiah: To have a hand in your community actively, not just passively, you're talking about it, but this is a chance to do something you pay while doing it and meet new people that you have some solid friendships along after the program to.

Keith: What' your kind of personal take on, you know, gun violence, gang violence?

Why is this stuff happening?

Why does it seem to be taking up in Toledo right now?

What do we do about it?

Isaiah: What I feel about it is people don't feel lik they have an alternative to it.

Some people are, quote unquote, born into it.

Some people this is all they see, you know, and get on TV and play video games.

It's a lot of gun games, lot of gun music, violent music.

So it's kind of second nature to a lot of people.

Keith: Yeah.

And what we can do about it is have you get the word out about the homies and other programs like it to have something to do.

I mean, they're taking them down a lot of mass on course and different parks.

And if we're being honest people don't really go to parks and play anymore i they're not outside their size.

Isaiah: Got a lot of fun.

So to be in a community like the homies progra where it's together, I think you help out a lot.

Keith: Well, thank you very much.

I thank you.

I think you've got a lot going on.

Isaiah: Thank you.

Keith: You got a great future right.

I must grant the last word to the Washington local students.

So in our conversations, they left me with much to think about.

They are fiercely loyal and bound to each other, their teachers and their school.

Lea: Our society for so long has pushed on mental health.

And now our generation especially has done nothing but raise it up and lift it up.

And I'm so excite to see what our generation does.

Ava: I think that sometimes when you are in like a really dark place, you don't always realize it.

All you might need to d is just reach out to some minor types of friend to say, Hey, like I need help.

And so it just builds on and on because you want to do it by yourself and you don't think tha anything else is going to help.

But sometimes all you really need to do is just tell somebody like, Hey, I need help.

I'm not doing okay.

Anaya: Even if you aren't ready to reach out for help, there's little thing like simply fixing your posture, wanting to go do things, sitting outside, really realizin the beautiful things around you, just looking outside can simply bring a smile to your face.

And I think that that's one of the biggest issues as people find a lot of comfort and sadness because they can't find the comfort anywhere else.

Keith: Wow.

Tell me what gives you hope, gives you inspires you or what?

Maybe what person inspires you?

Anaya: We inspire each other a lot.

That's sitting at this table right now is giving us every single little amount of hope that we can possibly have.

Lea: I agree.

I think our generation is not afraid anymore.

You know, we've sat through what no person should ever have to.

And the fact that even this table, you know, we're all very diverse to see, like our group in these meetings with adults and how not only are we respected, but we respect them back.

And I'm really hopeful for our generation.

Keith: Every generation feel that it is unique and different.

And to a large degree this is true.

This new generation is inheriting things.

We should not be leaving them with.

They will deal with it, all of it with determination, compassion and reason, which are all these are tool and they too will come through.

You can see it in their faces, the faces of my young Washington local friends, and hear it in the voic of a young person like Isaiah...

They inspire.

They have found and they are creating... Hope.