Questions about depression, stress, bullying, peer pressure and even suicidal thoughts took center stage July 31 as children at the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County openly discussed mental health with community leaders during the Huddle Up Program, a youth empowerment initiative designed to equip students with practical tools before the start of the new school year.
Rather than a series of lectures, the program became an interactive conversation as youths answered questions, shared healthy coping strategies, identified warning signs of mental health struggles and asked presenters how to navigate difficult situations.
Hosted through a partnership between the Little Rock Diamond Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County, the “United Minds: A Cultural Connection to Mental Health” program featured a panel of community leaders representing mental health, healthcare, leadership, finance and law enforcement. Panelists included mental health expert Felicia Renee Cooper; R. Roosevelt Williams III; Ward 1 Pine Bluff Councilmember Latisha Brunson; financial literacy presenter Shameca Gatewood; Arkansas State Police investigator Oscar Bullard Jr.; mental health advocate and Attorney Efrem B. Neely Sr.; Jefferson County Sheriff Lafayette Woods Jr.; and nurse practitioner Katrena Gordon. Tamara P. Glover, Ph.D., served as moderator, guiding discussions and encouraging students to actively participate…