Forum on Examining Mental Health in Our Communities Set for Dec. 6

MCPS is hosting Your Story Matters, a mental health forum for parents and caregivers that will include panel discussions and workshops. The event will be held in person from 6–8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Richard Montgomery High School. Doors open at 6 p.m. with information tables and welcome activities; the program begins at 6:30 p.m. High school students are also welcome to attend.

The four panel discussions for Your Story Matters will be focused on the African American, Asian and Hispanic communities. For the Hispanic community, there will be a panel presented in English and a separate panel presented in Spanish. Topics will focus on anxiety and depression, grief during the holidays and academic stress. Panels will also examine the stigma around mental health in those specific communities.

Mental health professionals and community partners also will facilitate interactive workshops for parents. Parents will choose from four workshops. More information on each is below:

• Anxiety: The Impact and Effects on Students: This session will include the showing of “Angst,” a documentary film on anxiety.
• How Community Schools Can Support Mental Health in Communities of Color
• Mental Health and Wellness for Young Children
• Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Communities of Color

RSVP to attend. For more information, call the Office of Well-Being, Learning and Achievement at 240-740-5630.

Richard Montgomery is located at 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville.