Erica Williams-Clark lost her cousin, Na’imah, to suicide in January 2017. She still thinks about her every day, and the loss has shaped her own decision to pursue a career in mental health.

She Lost Her Cousin To Suicide. Now She’s Fighting For Youth Mental Health.

Lunch was always the worst for Isaiah Donaldson when he was depressed. He lived in fear of not finding a place in the cafeteria. He knew he was struggling, but he didn't want to bother his mom with it. Finally a friend reached out, and it changed his life. 

Read more about student-led mental health programs here: https://post.cr/2E4uUz6 

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.postcrescent.com/featured-newsletter/kids_in_crisis/

His Depression Told Him No One Cared. A Friend Showed Him That Wasn't True.

Jesse Pennington-Cross has Tourette's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. She's 12 years old, and her family has struggled to find help for her, at one point trying an intensive behavioral modification program that involved having Jesse wear a timer on her ankle. It made her miserable, and her family too.

"It was heartbreaking," her mother said, "to realize I've been treating my child kind of like a trainable dog."

Today, they're trying a new approach. They call it "radical acceptance."

Read more about youth mental health: www.postcrescent.com/kidsincrisis

Sign up for our newsletter: www.postcrescent.com/featured-newsletter/kids_in_crisis/

'Radical acceptance' helps 12-year-old girl with Tourette's syndrome, OCD

Nick Becker's dad died by suicide a few days before Nick turned 5 years old. He has only a few memories of him. But he knows his father struggled with bipolar disorder — the same disease Nick, now 25, has struggled with since he was a teenager. Today Nick is a poet and a spoken word performer who uses his art to talk about mental health — and the importance of talking about mental health.

His Spoken Word Fights Mental Health Demons

In this bonus episode, we share stories told by young people at our live events across Wisconsin. 

In order, you’ll hear: Brenda Wesley, Nekita Krisko, Tina Sutherland, TJ Esser, Kaitlyn Akey, Jordan Palmieri and Kris Cahak.

For more from our Kids in Crisis series, visit www.postcrescent.com/kidsincrisis

In Live Stories, Young People Tell How They Found Hope At Dark Times

Jose Morales was hospitalized last year after school stress led him to suicidal thoughts. He's not alone; many teens say the stress of school weighs on their mental health. Jose's family and friends helped bring him back. In this episode, we hear from him and others on what young people need to survive school.

To read our report on school stress and see charts, click here: https://post.cr/2PdhKGQ

School Stress Led Him To Despair. Support From Family, Friends Brought Him Back.

Kris Cahak had 15 years, two months and six days with her daughter Morgan Peiper. Today, she works to fight mental health stigma and help others.

She Lost Her Teen Daughter To Suicide. Now She Fights To Help Others.

Franki Moscato started performing when she was just 11. Now 17, the Oshkosh teen is opening up about her struggles with bullying and depression ahead of a turn on 'American Idol.'

Find Franki's music at www.frankijo.com.

Read the story that goes with this podcast: https://www.postcrescent.com/story/series/kidsincrisis/2019/03/13/franki-moscato-wisconsin-teen-singer-bullying-american-idol/3029800002/ 

See the trailer for our documentary collaboration with Milwaukee PBS: https://www.postcrescent.com/story/opinion/2019/02/07/wisconsin-teens-share-mental-health-challenges-pbs-documentary/2504844002/

Find more at postcrescent.com/kidsincrisis.

Franki Moscato Has Been Bullied And Excluded. Now She Reaches Out Through Her Songs.

At a live event hosted by Marquette University and USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, young people shared their perspectives on their own mental health struggles, and what is needed to address the issue.

Panelists were Parker Adams, Amaii Collins, Alexandra Schmidt and Jesse Pennington-Cross. The discussion was moderated by Rory Linnane of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Read more at http://www.jsonline.com/kidsincrisis. You can watch the video of the full Marquette event at facebook.com/postcrescent.

'I Want People To Understand That They're Not Alone'

'This is Normal' is a podcast where young people talk about their own mental health challenges -- and how they got through them. Because when we share our stories, we can all feel a little less alone. Part of the Kids in Crisis series by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

This is Normal

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