NOTE: This program is participatory in nature. Attendees will be asked to engage with and contribute to the conversation.

Join us for a Living Room Conversation on Mental Health & Our Youth at Estes Park High School (1600 Manford Ave). We'll hold small-group, facilitated dialogues to discuss youth mental health in our community, and how we might better support our young people. Adults and teens are welcome. (Note: Consent (see the attached form) is required for any attendee under 18 who is not accompanied by a parent or guardian. Adult attendees will need to provide their name and address, as well as an ID, to enter the school. See below for more information.)

Report after report describes a mental health crisis facing youth in the U.S. According to one study, hospitalizations for pediatric suicidal behavior increased by 163% over an 11-year period. Locally, based on the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey taken by 406 Estes Park School District students in the fall of 2021, 42.7% of high school students and 32% of middle school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for 2+ weeks in a row. 25.8% of high school students and 25.3% of middle school students reported that they considered suicide in the past 12 months.

In this conversation, which will include both young people and adults, we’ll reflect on youth mental health in our community. How are we thinking about mental health? What mental health challenges are our youth facing? How are young people caring for their mental health, and what helps or gets in the way? How are mental health challenges impacting our community, and what changes would we make to help our young people thrive? Whether you’re a teen, parent, you work for an organization that supports youth, or you’re just concerned about this issue, join us to hear others’ perspectives and share your own. To engage on the topic, we'll break out into small groups of 7-8 participants, and we'll use the Living Room Conversations model, with the addition of a facilitator, to structure the discussions. For more about the topic and how we'll engage, check out the attached conversation guide.

To attend the event:

• Any attendee under 18 who is not accompanied by a parent or guardian will need to complete the attached consent form and submit it to the High School no later than March 29.
• Adult attendees will need to register for the program via this page no later than March 31. They will also need to go through the High School's security process to enter the building. This involves submitting your name and address, and providing an ID. Please be at the High School's main entrance by 12:45 PM to help ensure that the event starts on time.

More about the program

This event is a collaboration between the Community Conversations program and the Estes Park School District R-3.

Community Conversations is a collaboration between the Estes Valley Library and the Estes Valley Restorative Justice Partnership that aims to improve public communication, promote active community problem-solving, and elevate conversations in the Estes Valley.

Living Room Conversations is a small group model for dialogue that facilitates connections between people. Come to the table to share your perspective, learn about the experiences of others, and potentially leave with stronger connections and a shared sense of community.