July 21, 2025 • 25 mins
Breaking down the walls of silence surrounding youth mental health takes courage, creativity, and compassion – qualities that shine brightly in our remarkable student guests this month.
Meet Ainslee Lloyd from Franklin High School and Aarush Mantro from St. Xavier High School, two passionate advocates serving on the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation's Youth Advisory Council. Their infectious energy and genuine commitment to helping their peers navigate mental health challenges offer a powerful glimpse into how today's youth are transforming these crucial conversations.
"Talking about mental health is kind of taboo, especially in an all-boys school," Aarush admits, reflecting on his initial hesitation before joining Sources of Strength, a nationwide prevention program implemented in Ohio schools. Both students now lead campaigns that foster belonging and connection.
The students don't shy away from tough topics, offering candid insights about substance misuse among friends seeking escape from emotional struggles and how bullying has evolved in the digital age. "It's not as obvious...it's a lot more under the radar," Ainslee explains, while Aarush notes how COVID isolation further complicated young people's ability to maintain face-to-face connections.
Their work extends beyond their schools as part of the Youth Advisory Council, where they've helped award grants to youth-led suicide prevention projects across Ohio and created "Nate," a clever mascot for the 988 crisis line with the slogan "Call Nate before it's too late."
Listen now to be inspired by these remarkable young advocates who remind us that every voice matters in suicide prevention, and even small actions can save lives.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to our July episode of Voices for Suicide
Prevention.
As we like to say, ourconversations are real talk,
real honest, real life.
I'm Stephanie.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Bucher, and I'm Scott Light.
We are really excited for you,our listeners, to meet two
students who are going toinspire us all, and Stephanie I
think this is a first in havingtwo students on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I love it too.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
And I want to welcome Ainsley Lloyd from Franklin
High School in Warren County andArush Mantra from St Xavier
High School in Hamilton County.
Welcome both of you to the show.
This is so exciting and you cantell they're smiling, they're
ready to go, I think just tointroduce yourselves to the
(00:49):
audience.
You're both on the Ohio SuicidePrevention Foundation's Youth
Advisory Council.
You're also peer leaders forsources of strength in your
schools and we'll talk a littlebit about what that is and why.
We'll also talk about whatattracted you, both of you, to
suicide prevention and mentalwellness.
Ainsley, do you want to get usstarted?
(01:10):
What interested you in doingthis type of peer support?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I like to be involved in a lot of things like,
especially in my school, and ifit helps others.
So getting to like know moreabout um, like suicide
prevention and sources ofstrength, really was something I
wanted to do, because, um,anything that involves being
empathetic, because I'm a veryempathetic person and I want to
(01:37):
make a difference, even if it'sa small difference what about
you?
Speaker 4 (01:42):
my school just brought Source of Strength.
Going to my sophomore year ofhigh school and I got a letter
saying would you be interestedin joining this club?
And at first I was kind ofhesitant because talking about
mental health is kind of taboo,especially in an all-boys school
.
But when I joined it and I cameto the club I actually had a
(02:02):
really fun time and I realizedthis is something I'm passionate
about, something I like to do,and from that that's where I
decided to get more involvedinto mental health advocacy,
especially for the youth.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Thank you both for that introduction.
That's a great tee up forSources, because Sources of
Strength is probably known ineducation circles, but maybe not
so much in the mainstream.
So let's shine a couple oflights here.
Be not so much in themainstream, so let's shine a
couple of lights here.
It is led by the Ohio SuicidePrevention Foundation, by us
here at OSPF and by PreventionFirst, with the goal of bringing
life-changing programming to asmany Ohio communities as
(02:34):
possible.
This is also a national programfor K-12, and it seeks to
improve emotional well-being,preventing suicide, substance
misuse, bullying and violence.
So, arush, why don't you startus off here, maybe expand on how
you started, and why do youfeel like these outreach
services, this programming, thisadvocacy?
(02:55):
Why is this so needed right nowfor young people?
Speaker 4 (02:59):
I feel like it is really needed for young people
and I see the difference in myown community, in my own school,
because there's a lot of stigmaaround mental health,
especially for the young people,and not many people want to
talk about it.
So when we start talking aboutit and start making discussions,
people are a lot more open totalk about it, to bring it out
there.
You know we talk about like theflu or any other medical thing
(03:22):
just so commonly, but mentalhealth it's not as commonly
talked about.
I think it's very important.
I think sources of strength wasa very good first step,
especially in schools, to startthat conversation going.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I completely agree with him.
I would say, in my school, thecampaigns we run and the things
we do for our school like likegetting people involved and
talking about it and like alighthearted but serious way.
Because it's important to bringit up in like lighthearted ways
but to make sure that they knowthat it's like a serious topic
(03:53):
and I think that it's importantthat it's talked about because
it may be uncomfortable but Ithink people should definitely
bring it up more and feel morecomfortable talking about it.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
I'm curious.
You talk about some of thethings that you're doing in your
school.
Can you give us an example ofwhat you think is making an
impact?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I would say involvement in the school.
We do campaigns where it's likewe belong.
So maybe if kids have a problemwith feeling like they're
disincluded or being like into,like feeling individualized or
something they can, um, feelmore close to their school and
like a part of it.
(04:32):
Or we do stuff like spring intowellness, where you have like a
.
We have a big courtyard at myschool and we have like cornhole
and like painting rocks and wehave sporty things but also
artsy things and it kind ofbrings the school together, kind
of like like a big team orsomething.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
So that's pretty cool , so it's helping to make that
connection.
Yeah Right, yeah, and thatyou're not alone, that there are
people there supporting you andyou're finding those trusted
advisors and those trusted peersupport leaders.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yes, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Yeah, what about you Arush?
Speaker 4 (05:07):
So we did a most recent campaign.
So every quarter we have acampaign for our school, a
different thing highlighting thesource of strength of wheel, if
you're familiar with that.
So our most recent was fourthquarter.
I was actually one of theleaders for it, so it was
actually pretty fun.
So what we did is we wanted tohighlight trusted adults in our
school community.
So we did something fun.
(05:28):
So we did a pie in the facewhere we had kids take a survey
on who their trusted adults wereand why they were trusted
adults, and they got pied in theface at our end of the year
celebration and then we got tosay why they were trusted adults
.
So that way they were likehighlighted for everybody to see
that these are people you cancome and you can talk to if you
(05:48):
need to talk to them.
And I think that was reallygood because it was fun, but
also it brought the messageacross.
Wow.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And who doesn't like to throw pies in people's face,
I know, and they must havetrusted you guys as well to kind
of join in that.
I think that's really cool.
Can I follow up with you onyour specific experience at an
all-boys school?
And let's be honest, sometimesyoung boys to young men to older
men don't share their feelingswhen it comes to mental health.
(06:17):
Do you feel like that?
That is a particular challenge.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Yeah, I do.
I think for sure it is achallenge, especially as
teenagers and as you're growingolder.
People tend to say that weshould keep to ourselves, we
should keep our feelings toourselves, we should just like
get through it by ourselves.
But I feel like sources ofstrength in general, just us
talking about it, not even haveto be like a big thing like
depression, but just say I'mstressed about my homework or
(06:43):
something like this happened atschool.
Just getting those littleconversations starting opens the
door to bigger conversationsand I think that's what's really
important for getting like thestigma of mental out there and
allowing everyone to know it'sokay to talk about it, it's good
to talk about it.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So another area of concern among any age group,
really.
But let's talk and let's focuson youth.
Here is substance misuse, sogive us the perspective in your
words.
You know from your view, yourlives, your schools, regarding
drugs, alcohol and young peopleArush.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Yeah, so for my school, I think they do a really
good job with substance abuse.
You know there's checks andcheck-ins for that and also a
lot of education about that, butI do know that in a lot of
environments and communitiesthat substance use is all abused
, especially in the younger,like starting as soon as middle
school people are introduced toalcohol and drugs.
(07:36):
I feel like that is a problem,a big problem.
People are relying on thisstuff and it might be also
affecting their mental health aswell.
So I feel like it is a problemand we need to address it.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I would say that a lot of teens in my school like
they party on weekends and theydrink on weekends and they use
drugs on weekends, so it's likeor like on holidays sometimes.
So I mean some people would saythat that's it's a normal teen
behavior or that it should benormalized or something.
But what I've noticed is thatthe kids who fall into
(08:08):
depressions or have problemswith their mental health
whenever they want to get better, they think that using those
drugs and doing that alcohol isgoing to help them get them out
of it or forget about it,especially during school.
I've seen it happen Like theystart incorporating it into
their week more.
It starts becoming more of likea daily thing and then it's
(08:30):
just usually like you candefinitely tell on their face
that it's affecting them andit's really sad.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
You're both painting a really good picture for us and
for our listeners, about what'shappening in your schools and
again in your respective worlds.
Let us ask you about one otherone, and that's bullying.
Sources of Strength alsofocuses on violence prevention,
anti-bullying messaging.
Are these messages gettingthrough as well?
Is bullying going down, youthink, with your generation?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I would say that it is going down, but in different
ways.
I feel like the term bullyinggets misconstrued and people
think of it as different things.
So then they don't think thatthey're doing it or they use it
for some like they say thatthey're being bullied and it's
like they don't really get theterm that well.
So I would say it is not asobvious.
(09:22):
I think that it's a lot moreunder the radar when it comes to
bullying.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
And of course, you know, back in my day yes, I know
I sound like I'm a dinosaur wedidn't have social media.
So that in and of itself can bewonderful to be connected and
that kind of thing, but on theother hand it can also be a
vehicle for that type ofbullying if you will.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, arush, you want to jump in on it.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Yeah, I have to agree , I feel like bullying has not
as much in person like maybe howit was, you know, 20, 30 years
ago, I think a lot of it is nowon social media and online
platforms where people are likeposting pictures or spreading
stuff.
And especially with AI now youknow, it's very easy to spread
false information about peopleand a lot of people may just say
(10:16):
it's like a joke, just a joke,but you don't really know how
it's affecting someone,especially when you can't see
how they feel in person to face.
I think a lot of bullying haschanged to more online, rather
in person, face to face haveeither one of you been bullied?
I haven't.
I mean there's been commentsabout me, you know, growing up,
but I've seen it and I've seenhow it affects people, you know,
(10:37):
and but me personally, I don'thave any stories or anything
about that.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I would say like, especially being a teenage girl.
Like teenage boys, they havetheir ways of nagging at you and
making fun of the way that youlook or every little thing that
you do.
They'll like laugh about itwith their friends and stuff.
But fortunately enough, I'veonly experienced it in like
small fractions of my life.
(11:02):
It's like not like an everydaything.
It's always like not like aneveryday thing.
It's always from the samepeople.
So it's kind of just like, justkind of like whatever.
They're obviously going throughsomething, so you just gotta
keep quiet and just be like, oryou can look at them just like
why would you say that?
And then they kind of like backdown.
But um, I do see it like whathe said.
I do see it in um other Because, if you think about it, there
(11:25):
could be people who are goingthrough so much and school's
their safe place or it's liketheir outlet and they don't
really have an outlet in theirlife and they get to school and
it kind of like if there'sbullying, it kind of sucks
because it's kind of taking thataway and it's really sad.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
To Stephanie's point, let me ask too I'd love to
follow up on the social mediaside of it.
You know social is great forthings like this and you know
we'll put this podcast out onsocial media and for putting
advocacy campaigns out there andall kinds of educational tools.
But again, you know it can beanonymous because jacksmith872
(12:05):
at gmailcom can jump on and sayanything he wants about anybody
else, right?
So do you think social mediahow would you kind of split that
?
Is it kind of 50% good and 50%you got to watch it?
Or do you look at it as morenegative or more positive?
I'm just curious.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
When it comes to like information, it can be really
good, but it also can be reallybad.
So I don't know if I'd say it's50-50.
It's kind of like 60-40.
Like 60% of it is like bad, bad, and then 40 of it is good.
Um, but you kind of just haveto have to have discernment and
like what you look at and whatyou listen to and what, who you
(12:46):
listen to and what informationyou take in, and you just got to
know how to hit that blockbutton.
To be honest, if somebody'sbeing being mean, you just got
to hit that block button.
That's what you got to do, orreport them like.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
It may not do that much, but if enough people see
it as concerning yeah, speak upright yeah yeah, arush, how
would you kind of categorize ifyou had to put it in numbers,
like angely did?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
I feel like there's parts of it, but I feel like,
like everything, it's a tool andit's how people use it, so it
can be good or bad based on howyou use it, because social media
and online platform has done alot of good but also can do a
lot of bad.
I feel like it's just how weuse, just like anything like AI
or anything else, like justanything like tool, a tool like
(13:30):
humans have made.
It can be done to do a lot ofgood or bad, just depending how
you use it.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
You both have very healthy outlooks on this.
I love that, and especially,ainsley, when you talk about
discernment, and sometimes wehave to.
We have to, like, figure outwhat's important for us and what
kind of media we're taking in.
And it doesn't matter how oldyou are, you know.
I mean you could be 50 and 60,or you could be 50 or 60.
(13:57):
It doesn't matter, it's thesame thing, right At any age.
You know, we've covered somevery serious topics here.
Is there anything else that youthink that would need more
attention related to the mentalwellness of students?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
I would say probably the like, the under the radar
bullying, like the little nagsat people and like the things
that you say, like under yourbreath or something like.
I feel like people could do alot better job of like making
sure that people keep tothemselves a little bit.
It's like if you don't haveanything nice to say, don't say
it, and even if it's just asmall comment, it could be that
(14:37):
person's last straw and youdon't want that to be your fault
or you don't want that tohappen to them.
So it's just like you got towalk, like kind of just like,
even if it's the smallest thing,just like, keep it to yourself,
if it's nothing good, justdon't say it.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
And this is one of the reasons why you and Arush
are peer leaders in your school.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
That's awesome, Arush did you have anything else to
add?
Yeah, I feel like going back tosocial media and everything.
I feel like a lot of people,especially people my age and
younger, are so used to textingand social media and digital
world that they lose thatface-to-face connection, and
especially because of COVID aswell, where, like growing up, we
were like locked in our housefor two, three years.
(15:20):
We didn't get that face-to-faceconnection where, like eye
contact and stuff like that.
So growing up I had to, youknow, make extra like cautious
to learn those things.
Have a face-to-face connectionwhere I feel like, you know, my
parents didn't have to, you know, try as hard because all their
connection was face-to-facetalking to people, but for us
it's all social media and thenCOVID as well, kind of just
(15:43):
everything digital.
So the big part of it is justhuman connection.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Let's come back to your connections with us here at
OSPF.
You are, as we mentioned, partof the Youth Advisory Council.
You met for the first timeearlier this year with 18 other
Advisory Council members, andthere was a big item on the
agenda and it was to reviewgrant applications for
student-led suicide preventionprojects.
Why did you want to getinvolved in this way with this
(16:10):
council?
Speaker 3 (16:11):
I wanted to get involved with this council
because I'm also involved in theMiddletown Community Foundation
Youth Council and I really,really enjoy that and I'm
involved in Sources of Strength,so it was like the best of both
worlds kind of.
So I really liked doing it andI'm glad that I did.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Yeah.
So my teacher sent me a link tolook at this organization.
I was like, wow, this is reallycool Because I get to connect
with people from all over thestate who have the same goal,
but diverse, with differentopinions, different backgrounds,
different thoughts.
We kind of share ideas, talk toeach other a lot about
different ways to help people inneed, and it was a really nice
(16:51):
experience and I feel like thatwas very beneficial that I could
bring back to my own communityas well.
I feel like that would reallybe beneficial to me.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
And the Youth Advisory Council.
You know, obviously you bothare from the southwest part of
Ohio, but I mean the othercouncil members came from all
over the state of Ohio.
What was it like for that firstmeeting and being able to do
that face to face and meetingthose other council members?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
It was great.
I got to hear a lot ofdifferent things that people do
at different schools that wedon't do at my own school lot of
different things that people doat different schools that we
don't do at my own school and Igot to come back and tell my
teacher about it.
I got to hear different ideasfrom other people who have
different experiences from me.
You know something that I neverexperienced going to an
all-boys school, a privateschool, for someone who goes to
a public school.
We have different experiencesand we'll see different things,
(17:40):
so I got to share with eachother what we saw and it was a
really nice experience overall.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I do agree.
Like getting to knoweverybody's different, like
campaigns and things that theydid for their sources of
strength, and like getting ideasand bringing it back to my
teacher was really important andmeeting all the people.
I think that was like that wasso cool.
Like I made so many friends,like we followed each other on
Instagram.
That's great, awesome.
Yeah, that's great.
Like I made so many friends,like we followed each other on
(18:05):
Instagram.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Oh, that's great, awesome, yeah, that's great.
During your conversation thatyou had with when the Youth
Advisory Council was together,in addition to selecting eight
projects that each received$7,500 in grants, which is
awesome, so they can continuethat youth-led suicide
prevention in their area, youalso worked on some ideas as
well, kind of your own youth-led, youth-focused 988 campaign,
(18:30):
and you came up with a veryclever mascot and you had some
great ideas.
Could one of you tell us alittle bit about who Nate is?
Do you remember?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Nate during those conversations.
He's like an animated clock.
Okay, I'm going to tell youwhat I remember, because a lot
of the people who were next tome were kind of going crazy
about it.
It was like there were ideasflying everywhere.
But he's an animated clockwhose name is Nate, which is
like 988, because it's like Nate.
(19:02):
You know, that's great.
It's like call Nate before it'stoo late.
So it kind of has a ring to itand they put like a little face
on him and he's really cool.
So I thought it was a good idea.
It's fun.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
Evie gave us some time just brainstorm ideas and
Nate the mascot was one of theideas people came up with and I
thought it was really fun andcool yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
And you're talking about our very own Evie Roberts,
who is our youth programmanager, and she is awesome and
she led that conversation duringthat day.
So that's great and we'rehoping that what we'll be able
to do, because this is such agreat idea that we're going to
hear more about NAIT and thiscampaign throughout the state of
(19:47):
Ohio.
So more to come on that.
I think that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
One of the things that you both have mentioned and
you just exude here is strengthand confidence, and we say
around here that getting helpfor your mental health is a sign
of strength.
Arush, you were talking aboutthis earlier.
It shouldn't be a taboo subject, right?
Do you think that yourgeneration the fact that you are
(20:17):
talking more loudly, coming topodcasts and putting things out
on social media, joining thesecampaigns, joining these
councils do you think it'll beyour generation of young people
that will really push through?
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Yeah, I think we're in the right direction.
For sure, I feel like Source ofStrength was a big, big thing
for a lot of schools.
That came and got thatconversation going for teens and
youth and high schoolers andeven when we were doing those
grants we saw it was coming toelementary school as well, who
was really cool.
I feel like getting thatconversation going was the big
(20:51):
part of it and I feel like we'llget conversation about mental
health going and people talkingabout it.
Hopefully we can help peoplewho need it.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
I'd say, even if it isn't our generation, hopefully
we get the next generation ready, you know, hopefully we put the
best foot forward.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
As we start to kind of round the corner of the
conversation.
We always want to leave ourlisteners with hope, with
positivity, because, let's faceit, what we do here at OSPF,
these are heavy subjects, right.
What gives both of you hope?
Speaker 3 (21:29):
of you hope.
What gives me hope when talkingabout these stigmas and stuff
is, like you, it's better tobring it to light than to not
say anything, and for somepeople you bringing it to light
is exactly what they need.
And you just need to kind ofput the word out there like
address the elephant in the roomand that's like probably the
most important thing about it isjust remembering that you
(21:52):
helping get through this and youtalking about it is helping
somebody else get through this.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
I have to agree.
I feel like that gives me hope.
It's just everybody, like youngpeople in my school, across the
state, across the country, evenjust starting to talk about it,
getting that conversation outthere.
I feel like that gives me hopefor a future where this mental
health is not something thatpeople feel taboo to talk about.
It's something that we canopenly talk about and help each
other with.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Well, I don't want to sound like your parent or your
grandparent in my case.
I don't want to sound like yourparent or your grandparent in
my case, but we'd love to know alittle bit more about you, know
what you see, both going intoyour senior year, and then what
happens after that.
Ainsley, do you have some planscoming up?
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Well, after my senior year I plan on going to college
.
I don't know if I want to dopsychology or digital media arts
yet I'm still trying to figureit out, but hopefully, yeah.
If I want to do psychology ordigital media arts yet I'm still
trying to figure it out, buthopefully, yeah, I still have
time.
But because I really like doinglike the mental health stuff
and I feel like psychology liketies into that, but I also like
digital media arts, so I'm justtrying to.
(22:58):
But after that, then hopefullyI'll know, mostly you got time.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, you got plenty of time.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Yeah.
So ever since I was a kid, Ialways wanted to make a
difference in what I do.
I want to make an impact on theworld, and I feel like the best
way for me to do that was tobecome a doctor.
So I want to go to collegepre-med Hopefully that works out
and become a doctor.
I don't know what exact type ofdoctor I want to be yet Maybe a
mental health doctor, you know?
Yeah, so that's what I want todo.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Stephanie, we need to have more students on this
podcast, because you and I and,of course, both of these young
people, we've all been smilingthroughout this, but I'm just so
encouraged by them I'mmotivated by them.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah, and each of us can learn from each other, right
?
I don't know everything, but Ican learn from you and be able
to take that and grow myself,and I hope that other people
have that opportunity as well.
So, yes, I agree, scott, weneed to have more youth voices
(23:59):
on here.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Yeah, this has just been fantastic.
Any closing thoughts and again,no pressure.
But if there are any closingthoughts that you'd like to
leave our listeners with when itcomes to mental health and
suicide prevention, I would saythat your voice matters, even if
it's just texting a friendabout 988 or whatever.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
it is just something little can really make a big
difference.
You know, if a lot of peoplejust start talking about it or
just talking about 98 or justtexting a friend hey, listen to
this podcast it can make areally big difference.
So your voice matters and ifyou get out there it can make a
huge difference more than youcan know.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
And call Nate before it's too late.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Getting in that marketing messaging already.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
We're going to have t-shirts made soon.
That's great.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Ainsley and Arush.
Thank you both for joining us,for being difference makers, for
being those positive leadersout there and you know what?
Just being good humans, it justabsolutely matters.
The work that you and manyothers do for youth suicide
prevention is a true lifesaver.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
And, of course, to our listeners.
We thank you as well.
When you listen to our episodes, you break stigmas, break
barriers and you care aboutmental health and saving lives.
This is Voices for SuicidePrevention, brought to you by
the Ohio Suicide PreventionFoundation.
Welcome to our July episode of Voices for Suicide
Prevention.
As we like to say, ourconversations are real talk,
real honest, real life.
I'm Stephanie.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Bucher, and I'm Scott Light.
We are really excited for you,our listeners, to meet two
students who are going toinspire us all, and Stephanie I
think this is a first in havingtwo students on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
I love it too.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
And I want to welcome Ainsley Lloyd from Franklin
High School in Warren County andArush Mantra from St Xavier
High School in Hamilton County.
Welcome both of you to the show.
This is so exciting and you cantell they're smiling, they're
ready to go, I think just tointroduce yourselves to the
(00:49):
audience.
You're both on the Ohio SuicidePrevention Foundation's Youth
Advisory Council.
You're also peer leaders forsources of strength in your
schools and we'll talk a littlebit about what that is and why.
We'll also talk about whatattracted you, both of you, to
suicide prevention and mentalwellness.
Ainsley, do you want to get usstarted?
(01:10):
What interested you in doingthis type of peer support?
Speaker 3 (01:15):
I like to be involved in a lot of things like,
especially in my school, and ifit helps others.
So getting to like know moreabout um, like suicide
prevention and sources ofstrength, really was something I
wanted to do, because, um,anything that involves being
empathetic, because I'm a veryempathetic person and I want to
(01:37):
make a difference, even if it'sa small difference what about
you?
Speaker 4 (01:42):
my school just brought Source of Strength.
Going to my sophomore year ofhigh school and I got a letter
saying would you be interestedin joining this club?
And at first I was kind ofhesitant because talking about
mental health is kind of taboo,especially in an all-boys school
.
But when I joined it and I cameto the club I actually had a
(02:02):
really fun time and I realizedthis is something I'm passionate
about, something I like to do,and from that that's where I
decided to get more involvedinto mental health advocacy,
especially for the youth.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Thank you both for that introduction.
That's a great tee up forSources, because Sources of
Strength is probably known ineducation circles, but maybe not
so much in the mainstream.
So let's shine a couple oflights here.
Be not so much in themainstream, so let's shine a
couple of lights here.
It is led by the Ohio SuicidePrevention Foundation, by us
here at OSPF and by PreventionFirst, with the goal of bringing
life-changing programming to asmany Ohio communities as
(02:34):
possible.
This is also a national programfor K-12, and it seeks to
improve emotional well-being,preventing suicide, substance
misuse, bullying and violence.
So, arush, why don't you startus off here, maybe expand on how
you started, and why do youfeel like these outreach
services, this programming, thisadvocacy?
(02:55):
Why is this so needed right nowfor young people?
Speaker 4 (02:59):
I feel like it is really needed for young people
and I see the difference in myown community, in my own school,
because there's a lot of stigmaaround mental health,
especially for the young people,and not many people want to
talk about it.
So when we start talking aboutit and start making discussions,
people are a lot more open totalk about it, to bring it out
there.
You know we talk about like theflu or any other medical thing
(03:22):
just so commonly, but mentalhealth it's not as commonly
talked about.
I think it's very important.
I think sources of strength wasa very good first step,
especially in schools, to startthat conversation going.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I completely agree with him.
I would say, in my school, thecampaigns we run and the things
we do for our school like likegetting people involved and
talking about it and like alighthearted but serious way.
Because it's important to bringit up in like lighthearted ways
but to make sure that they knowthat it's like a serious topic
(03:53):
and I think that it's importantthat it's talked about because
it may be uncomfortable but Ithink people should definitely
bring it up more and feel morecomfortable talking about it.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
I'm curious.
You talk about some of thethings that you're doing in your
school.
Can you give us an example ofwhat you think is making an
impact?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
I would say involvement in the school.
We do campaigns where it's likewe belong.
So maybe if kids have a problemwith feeling like they're
disincluded or being like into,like feeling individualized or
something they can, um, feelmore close to their school and
like a part of it.
(04:32):
Or we do stuff like spring intowellness, where you have like a
.
We have a big courtyard at myschool and we have like cornhole
and like painting rocks and wehave sporty things but also
artsy things and it kind ofbrings the school together, kind
of like like a big team orsomething.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
So that's pretty cool , so it's helping to make that
connection.
Yeah Right, yeah, and thatyou're not alone, that there are
people there supporting you andyou're finding those trusted
advisors and those trusted peersupport leaders.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Yes, yes, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Yeah, what about you Arush?
Speaker 4 (05:07):
So we did a most recent campaign.
So every quarter we have acampaign for our school, a
different thing highlighting thesource of strength of wheel, if
you're familiar with that.
So our most recent was fourthquarter.
I was actually one of theleaders for it, so it was
actually pretty fun.
So what we did is we wanted tohighlight trusted adults in our
school community.
So we did something fun.
(05:28):
So we did a pie in the facewhere we had kids take a survey
on who their trusted adults wereand why they were trusted
adults, and they got pied in theface at our end of the year
celebration and then we got tosay why they were trusted adults
.
So that way they were likehighlighted for everybody to see
that these are people you cancome and you can talk to if you
(05:48):
need to talk to them.
And I think that was reallygood because it was fun, but
also it brought the messageacross.
Wow.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And who doesn't like to throw pies in people's face,
I know, and they must havetrusted you guys as well to kind
of join in that.
I think that's really cool.
Can I follow up with you onyour specific experience at an
all-boys school?
And let's be honest, sometimesyoung boys to young men to older
men don't share their feelingswhen it comes to mental health.
(06:17):
Do you feel like that?
That is a particular challenge.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Yeah, I do.
I think for sure it is achallenge, especially as
teenagers and as you're growingolder.
People tend to say that weshould keep to ourselves, we
should keep our feelings toourselves, we should just like
get through it by ourselves.
But I feel like sources ofstrength in general, just us
talking about it, not even haveto be like a big thing like
depression, but just say I'mstressed about my homework or
(06:43):
something like this happened atschool.
Just getting those littleconversations starting opens the
door to bigger conversationsand I think that's what's really
important for getting like thestigma of mental out there and
allowing everyone to know it'sokay to talk about it, it's good
to talk about it.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So another area of concern among any age group,
really.
But let's talk and let's focuson youth.
Here is substance misuse, sogive us the perspective in your
words.
You know from your view, yourlives, your schools, regarding
drugs, alcohol and young peopleArush.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Yeah, so for my school, I think they do a really
good job with substance abuse.
You know there's checks andcheck-ins for that and also a
lot of education about that, butI do know that in a lot of
environments and communitiesthat substance use is all abused
, especially in the younger,like starting as soon as middle
school people are introduced toalcohol and drugs.
(07:36):
I feel like that is a problem,a big problem.
People are relying on thisstuff and it might be also
affecting their mental health aswell.
So I feel like it is a problemand we need to address it.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
I would say that a lot of teens in my school like
they party on weekends and theydrink on weekends and they use
drugs on weekends, so it's likeor like on holidays sometimes.
So I mean some people would saythat that's it's a normal teen
behavior or that it should benormalized or something.
But what I've noticed is thatthe kids who fall into
(08:08):
depressions or have problemswith their mental health
whenever they want to get better, they think that using those
drugs and doing that alcohol isgoing to help them get them out
of it or forget about it,especially during school.
I've seen it happen Like theystart incorporating it into
their week more.
It starts becoming more of likea daily thing and then it's
(08:30):
just usually like you candefinitely tell on their face
that it's affecting them andit's really sad.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
You're both painting a really good picture for us and
for our listeners, about what'shappening in your schools and
again in your respective worlds.
Let us ask you about one otherone, and that's bullying.
Sources of Strength alsofocuses on violence prevention,
anti-bullying messaging.
Are these messages gettingthrough as well?
Is bullying going down, youthink, with your generation?
Speaker 3 (08:59):
I would say that it is going down, but in different
ways.
I feel like the term bullyinggets misconstrued and people
think of it as different things.
So then they don't think thatthey're doing it or they use it
for some like they say thatthey're being bullied and it's
like they don't really get theterm that well.
So I would say it is not asobvious.
(09:22):
I think that it's a lot moreunder the radar when it comes to
bullying.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
And of course, you know, back in my day yes, I know
I sound like I'm a dinosaur wedidn't have social media.
So that in and of itself can bewonderful to be connected and
that kind of thing, but on theother hand it can also be a
vehicle for that type ofbullying if you will.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Yeah, arush, you want to jump in on it.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Yeah, I have to agree , I feel like bullying has not
as much in person like maybe howit was, you know, 20, 30 years
ago, I think a lot of it is nowon social media and online
platforms where people are likeposting pictures or spreading
stuff.
And especially with AI now youknow, it's very easy to spread
false information about peopleand a lot of people may just say
(10:16):
it's like a joke, just a joke,but you don't really know how
it's affecting someone,especially when you can't see
how they feel in person to face.
I think a lot of bullying haschanged to more online, rather
in person, face to face haveeither one of you been bullied?
I haven't.
I mean there's been commentsabout me, you know, growing up,
but I've seen it and I've seenhow it affects people, you know,
(10:37):
and but me personally, I don'thave any stories or anything
about that.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I would say like, especially being a teenage girl.
Like teenage boys, they havetheir ways of nagging at you and
making fun of the way that youlook or every little thing that
you do.
They'll like laugh about itwith their friends and stuff.
But fortunately enough, I'veonly experienced it in like
small fractions of my life.
(11:02):
It's like not like an everydaything.
It's always like not like aneveryday thing.
It's always from the samepeople.
So it's kind of just like, justkind of like whatever.
They're obviously going throughsomething, so you just gotta
keep quiet and just be like, oryou can look at them just like
why would you say that?
And then they kind of like backdown.
But um, I do see it like whathe said.
I do see it in um other Because, if you think about it, there
(11:25):
could be people who are goingthrough so much and school's
their safe place or it's liketheir outlet and they don't
really have an outlet in theirlife and they get to school and
it kind of like if there'sbullying, it kind of sucks
because it's kind of taking thataway and it's really sad.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
To Stephanie's point, let me ask too I'd love to
follow up on the social mediaside of it.
You know social is great forthings like this and you know
we'll put this podcast out onsocial media and for putting
advocacy campaigns out there andall kinds of educational tools.
But again, you know it can beanonymous because jacksmith872
(12:05):
at gmailcom can jump on and sayanything he wants about anybody
else, right?
So do you think social mediahow would you kind of split that
?
Is it kind of 50% good and 50%you got to watch it?
Or do you look at it as morenegative or more positive?
I'm just curious.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
When it comes to like information, it can be really
good, but it also can be reallybad.
So I don't know if I'd say it's50-50.
It's kind of like 60-40.
Like 60% of it is like bad, bad, and then 40 of it is good.
Um, but you kind of just haveto have to have discernment and
like what you look at and whatyou listen to and what, who you
(12:46):
listen to and what informationyou take in, and you just got to
know how to hit that blockbutton.
To be honest, if somebody'sbeing being mean, you just got
to hit that block button.
That's what you got to do, orreport them like.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
It may not do that much, but if enough people see
it as concerning yeah, speak upright yeah yeah, arush, how
would you kind of categorize ifyou had to put it in numbers,
like angely did?
Speaker 4 (13:09):
I feel like there's parts of it, but I feel like,
like everything, it's a tool andit's how people use it, so it
can be good or bad based on howyou use it, because social media
and online platform has done alot of good but also can do a
lot of bad.
I feel like it's just how weuse, just like anything like AI
or anything else, like justanything like tool, a tool like
(13:30):
humans have made.
It can be done to do a lot ofgood or bad, just depending how
you use it.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
You both have very healthy outlooks on this.
I love that, and especially,ainsley, when you talk about
discernment, and sometimes wehave to.
We have to, like, figure outwhat's important for us and what
kind of media we're taking in.
And it doesn't matter how oldyou are, you know.
I mean you could be 50 and 60,or you could be 50 or 60.
(13:57):
It doesn't matter, it's thesame thing, right At any age.
You know, we've covered somevery serious topics here.
Is there anything else that youthink that would need more
attention related to the mentalwellness of students?
Speaker 3 (14:15):
I would say probably the like, the under the radar
bullying, like the little nagsat people and like the things
that you say, like under yourbreath or something like.
I feel like people could do alot better job of like making
sure that people keep tothemselves a little bit.
It's like if you don't haveanything nice to say, don't say
it, and even if it's just asmall comment, it could be that
(14:37):
person's last straw and youdon't want that to be your fault
or you don't want that tohappen to them.
So it's just like you got towalk, like kind of just like,
even if it's the smallest thing,just like, keep it to yourself,
if it's nothing good, justdon't say it.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
And this is one of the reasons why you and Arush
are peer leaders in your school.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
That's awesome, Arush did you have anything else to
add?
Yeah, I feel like going back tosocial media and everything.
I feel like a lot of people,especially people my age and
younger, are so used to textingand social media and digital
world that they lose thatface-to-face connection, and
especially because of COVID aswell, where, like growing up, we
were like locked in our housefor two, three years.
(15:20):
We didn't get that face-to-faceconnection where, like eye
contact and stuff like that.
So growing up I had to, youknow, make extra like cautious
to learn those things.
Have a face-to-face connectionwhere I feel like, you know, my
parents didn't have to, you know, try as hard because all their
connection was face-to-facetalking to people, but for us
it's all social media and thenCOVID as well, kind of just
(15:43):
everything digital.
So the big part of it is justhuman connection.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Let's come back to your connections with us here at
OSPF.
You are, as we mentioned, partof the Youth Advisory Council.
You met for the first timeearlier this year with 18 other
Advisory Council members, andthere was a big item on the
agenda and it was to reviewgrant applications for
student-led suicide preventionprojects.
Why did you want to getinvolved in this way with this
(16:10):
council?
Speaker 3 (16:11):
I wanted to get involved with this council
because I'm also involved in theMiddletown Community Foundation
Youth Council and I really,really enjoy that and I'm
involved in Sources of Strength,so it was like the best of both
worlds kind of.
So I really liked doing it andI'm glad that I did.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Yeah.
So my teacher sent me a link tolook at this organization.
I was like, wow, this is reallycool Because I get to connect
with people from all over thestate who have the same goal,
but diverse, with differentopinions, different backgrounds,
different thoughts.
We kind of share ideas, talk toeach other a lot about
different ways to help people inneed, and it was a really nice
(16:51):
experience and I feel like thatwas very beneficial that I could
bring back to my own communityas well.
I feel like that would reallybe beneficial to me.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
And the Youth Advisory Council.
You know, obviously you bothare from the southwest part of
Ohio, but I mean the othercouncil members came from all
over the state of Ohio.
What was it like for that firstmeeting and being able to do
that face to face and meetingthose other council members?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
It was great.
I got to hear a lot ofdifferent things that people do
at different schools that wedon't do at my own school lot of
different things that people doat different schools that we
don't do at my own school and Igot to come back and tell my
teacher about it.
I got to hear different ideasfrom other people who have
different experiences from me.
You know something that I neverexperienced going to an
all-boys school, a privateschool, for someone who goes to
a public school.
We have different experiencesand we'll see different things,
(17:40):
so I got to share with eachother what we saw and it was a
really nice experience overall.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I do agree.
Like getting to knoweverybody's different, like
campaigns and things that theydid for their sources of
strength, and like getting ideasand bringing it back to my
teacher was really important andmeeting all the people.
I think that was like that wasso cool.
Like I made so many friends,like we followed each other on
Instagram.
That's great, awesome.
Yeah, that's great.
Like I made so many friends,like we followed each other on
(18:05):
Instagram.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Oh, that's great, awesome, yeah, that's great.
During your conversation thatyou had with when the Youth
Advisory Council was together,in addition to selecting eight
projects that each received$7,500 in grants, which is
awesome, so they can continuethat youth-led suicide
prevention in their area, youalso worked on some ideas as
well, kind of your own youth-led, youth-focused 988 campaign,
(18:30):
and you came up with a veryclever mascot and you had some
great ideas.
Could one of you tell us alittle bit about who Nate is?
Do you remember?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Nate during those conversations.
He's like an animated clock.
Okay, I'm going to tell youwhat I remember, because a lot
of the people who were next tome were kind of going crazy
about it.
It was like there were ideasflying everywhere.
But he's an animated clockwhose name is Nate, which is
like 988, because it's like Nate.
(19:02):
You know, that's great.
It's like call Nate before it'stoo late.
So it kind of has a ring to itand they put like a little face
on him and he's really cool.
So I thought it was a good idea.
It's fun.
Speaker 4 (19:13):
Evie gave us some time just brainstorm ideas and
Nate the mascot was one of theideas people came up with and I
thought it was really fun andcool yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
And you're talking about our very own Evie Roberts,
who is our youth programmanager, and she is awesome and
she led that conversation duringthat day.
So that's great and we'rehoping that what we'll be able
to do, because this is such agreat idea that we're going to
hear more about NAIT and thiscampaign throughout the state of
(19:47):
Ohio.
So more to come on that.
I think that's awesome.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
One of the things that you both have mentioned and
you just exude here is strengthand confidence, and we say
around here that getting helpfor your mental health is a sign
of strength.
Arush, you were talking aboutthis earlier.
It shouldn't be a taboo subject, right?
Do you think that yourgeneration the fact that you are
(20:17):
talking more loudly, coming topodcasts and putting things out
on social media, joining thesecampaigns, joining these
councils do you think it'll beyour generation of young people
that will really push through?
Speaker 4 (20:30):
Yeah, I think we're in the right direction.
For sure, I feel like Source ofStrength was a big, big thing
for a lot of schools.
That came and got thatconversation going for teens and
youth and high schoolers andeven when we were doing those
grants we saw it was coming toelementary school as well, who
was really cool.
I feel like getting thatconversation going was the big
(20:51):
part of it and I feel like we'llget conversation about mental
health going and people talkingabout it.
Hopefully we can help peoplewho need it.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
I'd say, even if it isn't our generation, hopefully
we get the next generation ready, you know, hopefully we put the
best foot forward.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
As we start to kind of round the corner of the
conversation.
We always want to leave ourlisteners with hope, with
positivity, because, let's faceit, what we do here at OSPF,
these are heavy subjects, right.
What gives both of you hope?
Speaker 3 (21:29):
of you hope.
What gives me hope when talkingabout these stigmas and stuff
is, like you, it's better tobring it to light than to not
say anything, and for somepeople you bringing it to light
is exactly what they need.
And you just need to kind ofput the word out there like
address the elephant in the roomand that's like probably the
most important thing about it isjust remembering that you
(21:52):
helping get through this and youtalking about it is helping
somebody else get through this.
Speaker 4 (21:59):
I have to agree.
I feel like that gives me hope.
It's just everybody, like youngpeople in my school, across the
state, across the country, evenjust starting to talk about it,
getting that conversation outthere.
I feel like that gives me hopefor a future where this mental
health is not something thatpeople feel taboo to talk about.
It's something that we canopenly talk about and help each
other with.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Well, I don't want to sound like your parent or your
grandparent in my case.
I don't want to sound like yourparent or your grandparent in
my case, but we'd love to know alittle bit more about you, know
what you see, both going intoyour senior year, and then what
happens after that.
Ainsley, do you have some planscoming up?
Speaker 3 (22:38):
Well, after my senior year I plan on going to college
.
I don't know if I want to dopsychology or digital media arts
yet I'm still trying to figureit out, but hopefully, yeah.
If I want to do psychology ordigital media arts yet I'm still
trying to figure it out, buthopefully, yeah, I still have
time.
But because I really like doinglike the mental health stuff
and I feel like psychology liketies into that, but I also like
digital media arts, so I'm justtrying to.
(22:58):
But after that, then hopefullyI'll know, mostly you got time.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, you got plenty of time.
Speaker 4 (23:05):
Yeah.
So ever since I was a kid, Ialways wanted to make a
difference in what I do.
I want to make an impact on theworld, and I feel like the best
way for me to do that was tobecome a doctor.
So I want to go to collegepre-med Hopefully that works out
and become a doctor.
I don't know what exact type ofdoctor I want to be yet Maybe a
mental health doctor, you know?
Yeah, so that's what I want todo.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
Stephanie, we need to have more students on this
podcast, because you and I and,of course, both of these young
people, we've all been smilingthroughout this, but I'm just so
encouraged by them I'mmotivated by them.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Yeah, and each of us can learn from each other, right
?
I don't know everything, but Ican learn from you and be able
to take that and grow myself,and I hope that other people
have that opportunity as well.
So, yes, I agree, scott, weneed to have more youth voices
(23:59):
on here.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
Yeah, this has just been fantastic.
Any closing thoughts and again,no pressure.
But if there are any closingthoughts that you'd like to
leave our listeners with when itcomes to mental health and
suicide prevention, I would saythat your voice matters, even if
it's just texting a friendabout 988 or whatever.
Speaker 4 (24:19):
it is just something little can really make a big
difference.
You know, if a lot of peoplejust start talking about it or
just talking about 98 or justtexting a friend hey, listen to
this podcast it can make areally big difference.
So your voice matters and ifyou get out there it can make a
huge difference more than youcan know.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
And call Nate before it's too late.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Getting in that marketing messaging already.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
We're going to have t-shirts made soon.
That's great.
Speaker 2 (24:47):
Ainsley and Arush.
Thank you both for joining us,for being difference makers, for
being those positive leadersout there and you know what?
Just being good humans, it justabsolutely matters.
The work that you and manyothers do for youth suicide
prevention is a true lifesaver.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
And, of course, to our listeners.
We thank you as well.
When you listen to our episodes, you break stigmas, break
barriers and you care aboutmental health and saving lives.
This is Voices for SuicidePrevention, brought to you by
the Ohio Suicide PreventionFoundation.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.