ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A town hall Thursday night sounded the alarms about the mental health of young people following the deadly May 16 tornado in St. Louis.
Mental health professionals say the devastation has had an impact on much of our community.
The event was held at the Westside Missionary Baptist Church in north St. Louis County.
It featured various speakers and resources for families in need of behavioral and mental health services.
It also included a panel of youth mental health experts who gave advice on how parents can best help their kids through recent traumas many have experienced across our area.
The three key takeaways were simple, yet powerful:
- Talk to your kids about recent traumatic events they may have experienced
- Watch for patterns or changes in their behaviors
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help
The St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund offers a ‘Find A Service’ tool on its website.
The City of St. Louis also offers a Mental Health Help page where people can find resources. Anyone can also take advantage of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.