Panel speaks on San Mateo County teen mental health and transition periods

Taylor Coutts, a panelist and program manager for StarVista’s Crisis Intervention and Suicide Preventional Hotline, said that it’s important to provide a space to discuss any struggles a student may experience as they go through these life changes. 

“We know, especially during times of transition, mental health is just as important, if not more important than physical health, in many ways, yet, it is often overlooked,” Coutts said. 

Lea Berhane, chief development, marketing and technology officer of StarVista, said that this event was also created with students who might not necessarily go on to higher education in mind. 

“We are treating and helping mental health youth in this area, we need to help all youth, not just the ones aspiring to go to Ivy Leagues,” Berhane said. “We wanted this support to be for everybody.”

San Mateo County has seen some of the highest rates of self harm in the state, and Coutts said that this is in some ways related to the insurmountable pressure high school students in the Bay Area face to go to a four-year institution. 

“We do a really good job of encouraging and promoting the pursuit of high education,” Coutts said. “There are very few things in life that I value more than education and experience, but I cannot emphasize enough that there are many ways to achieve education and experience.” 

Yvette Morales, a panelist and youth health ambassador for StarVista, acknowledged how difficult it can be to not be discouraged by the competitiveness in the area. She said it’s critical for young people to know how to take care of themselves and to feel empowered to make decisions that are right for them. 

“We often have in many cultures, including in mine, where there’s this idea that putting yourself first is selfish and it makes it harder to take care of yourself,” Morales said. “It’s important to remember it’s not. I really want to emphasize that.” 

This self assurance is easier said than done though, Zariah Mekile, a panelist and mental health clinician with StarVista, said. Mekile said that adolescents face a lot of pressure as they try to figure out who they are, especially during these pivotal life changes. She said finding your chosen family can make a huge difference in feeling supported during this time. 

Additionally, to help mitigate these stress levels, Coutts said that sheer curiosity from the adults in the lives of teenagers goes a long way. 

“There’s so much power in phrases like ‘tell me more,’” Coutts said. 

However, she also acknowledged that sometimes young people either don’t want to, or don’t know how, to ask for help or talk through their feelings. Coutts said that there is a strong power in affirmations, such as a quick text message or sticky note on a mirror. 

“Those practices where we don’t have to engage face to face might be sometimes easier given the circumstances, but it’s still that unconditional support and showing up for the young people in our lives,” Coutts said. 

Additionally, Coutts said it’s important for adults to practice encouragement and affirmations on themselves as well. She said that it’s much easier for a teenager to consider something if they see it modeled before them. 

Ultimately, since each person is unique, addressing mental health should be internally driven, said Dr. Nancy Quiggle, director of early childhood and school-based services at StarVista. She said adults to sometimes pull back their advice and let their teenagers figure things out on their own

“Some of the happiest people are those who have a sense of ownership and control over their own life and the choices they make in their life,” Quiggle said.