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AWI facilitates prevention of anxiety and depression in collaboration with several organizations. In the past, I detailed resources and providers but going forward I will also highlight some of the organizations helping families and communities implement the depression awareness and prevention exercises so that you might volunteer time or send them a check.
Most recently, I drove peer leaders from Wellesley to help plan peer leadership programs sponsored by the Boys and Girls Clubs. Their Teen Directors, Jeremy Schwartz in Newton and Jules LeBlanc in Watham, are committed to mental health and wellness promotion with their Torch club (for middle school ages) and Keystone club (for high school ages).
Jules at the Waltham club invited us to brainstorm with Torch and Keystone members on their projects for this Fall. The group identified violence prevention as their immediate goal. They will promote:
- building safe and respectful relationships
- identifying people to trust
- telling others about potential or actual violence
- developing coping skills including asking for help
- taking personal responsibility for the teen community
The teens also hope to organize a theme festival in Waltham; I very much look forward to seeing this develop!
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