Mental Health Takes Center Stage At Teen Performance

Inspirational. Community. Beginning. Reflection. Hope. These were the one-word answers teens used to describe Sunday's event, "Dear Palo Alto," at the Cubberley Theater.

"I think the event really accomplished what I wanted to do—which was to promote the message that life gets better, and there is hope and people out there," said coordinator Julia Tachibana, who aims to use art as a constructive outlet to bring the issue of teen suicide to light.

Palo Alto teens expressed their feelings and experiences regarding mental health issues through monologues, dance, rap and singing.

"I think the event did a really good job of talking about feelings and how people responded to the grief without re-opening wounds," said Taryn Snappen, director of the nonprofit organization, Break Though the Static, which co-sponsored the event. "It did a really good job of facilitating the feelings without telling people how to feel or what to do."

Before the performers began their acts, they spoke about how suicide and other issues have affected their lives. Justin Alfery and Nitsan Shai, members of the band After Closing Time, spoke about what it was like to attend Gunn High School after several students killed themselves on Palo Alto's Caltrain tracks.

"I was a bit nervous at first, because I didn't know exactly what I was going to say," Shai says. "But I had a general idea, and since we went last, I saw that other people were comfortable talking about it, so I wasn't afraid to say what I needed to say." 

After listening to Shai talk, fellow band member Remy Felsch said,"It made me understand that we all have different feelings about the issue, and I felt it was important for him to give his viewpoint." 

Many of the teens who performed said the event was therapeutic for everyone, performers and the audience.

Noa Dagan, with the dance group Captivating Dance by Nona, said, "I think everyone came together and was able to express themselves through their art forms."

Anders Greenwood, one of the psychologists who volunteered, said the event was inspirational.

"I couldn't believe the honesty people shared in talking about their personal experiences and putting it to music," Greenwood said. "I saw and heard things that I only hear in session talking with clients. Our culture doesn't usually come out and talk about really important aspects of human suffering and how we can support each other. And seeing these taboos ignored really brought me to tears, several times. It was really moving."

Jade Chamness, founder of Break Through the Static, said, "It was amazing to see all these young people to get on stage so confidently in front of parents, adults and mental health professionals and share how the suicides affected their schools. They were able to talk about eating disorders, and pain, and issues that are near to their heart. It just gave me goosebumps."

At the end of the event, three of the main performers, Captivating Dance by Nona, After Closing Time and Mickey Cho, improvised together.

"It was a powerful experience to having everybody up there with us on the stage supporting a cause that means a lot to all of us," Felsch said. 

Break Through the Static aims to create a community for teenagers through a network of support groups, retreats and camps. The first event, a hike to Alamere Falls for 10 high-schoolers, is planned for Saturday. Other planned events are a beach trip, snowboarding trip and a week-long overnight camp for teens next summer.

Many volunteers and performers said their only disappointment was with Sunday's attendance, which wasn't as large as they'd hoped. 

Coordinator Tachibana said there may be a disconnect between Palo Alto teens, the Palo Alto School District and the numerous mental health organizations. She said she was not allowed to post fliers of the event on school campuses, because they included the word "suicide."

"We're all interested in helping kids but everyone has their own ideas about what is best," she said. "We could have had more teen attendance if we had been allowed to advertise on the high school campus. There is a lot of politics involved."

She said the event may have not happened if not for the support of Rob de Geus, who co-chairs the Community Service Department of Project Safety Net. The organization is a community collaborative that has worked on suicide prevention and emotional health education of youth and teens for the last year.

"I have to give Rob de Geus so much credit," Tachibana said. "If he hadn't sent out the e-mail saying, 'I support the arts and I think this a good thing,' I don't think the event would have happened. He secured the venue and provided it free of charge. It just took one person believing in us to get everyone on board."

De Geus said teen expression is important in reducing the stigma around mental health.

"The biggest thing is to say that if you are struggling, it is OK to reach out," he said. "In this society, we don't like to talk about mental health very much. There is a great stigma around it, and we need to decrease that. [During the performances] we heard kids talking about some of their struggles, but they also said, 'We are here for each other,' and that's a really cool message." 

Tachibana said she is excited about future gatherings.

"I think this is the beginning of something really wonderful," she said. "I already have all these ideas lined up."

Dr. Shashank Joshi, director of School Mental Health Services at Stanford Hospital and on the executive committee of Project Safety Net, said he wants to continue to spread the message that resources are available and ready to help teens.

He said the youth energy and creativity surrounding this event is unstoppable.

"It's beautiful and real and unstoppable," Joshi said. "And the adults shouldn't want to get out of the way but be there with them alongside."

More information is on the Break Through the Status website. 

In addition, there are many local and national resources available for individuals contemplating suicide or battling other mental health issues. The 24 hour Suicide and Crisis Line (Santa Clara County) is 650-494-840, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Teens can also call ACS counseling service, (650) 384-3340, or KARA Grief counseling, (650)-321-5272.

Download the movie

Download the movie