Tell your story about youth mental health

Mental health should not be a hidden subject.

More than a third of Milwaukee public high schoolers report signs of depression. Twelve percent say they’ve recently attempted suicide. Their mental health challenges are often camouflaged in adolescent turmoil, their fragile moments masked on social media.

For nearly two years, the Kids in Crisis series from the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin has been shedding light on mental health through storytelling, investigations and community events. This fall, the network — including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — will be taking a closer look specifically at the Milwaukee area.

We hope to put the topic of youth mental health on every dinner table. We want to show mental illness is not something to be ashamed of. It doesn’t mean someone will be dangerous or violent.

We need your help to tell this story.

Strong, intelligent, flawed and powerful people are living every day with mental health challenges that they’re learning to harness, cope with and understand.

Maybe you’re one of them. Or maybe you know one of them.

We are looking for kids, teenagers and young adults who’ve experienced mental health challenges. We are also looking for caregivers, friends, professionals and advocates who’ve supported people with mental health challenges.

If you are interested in sharing your story or recommending someone, please email reporter Rory Linnane at rlinnane@gannett.com. Please include your name, age, and city or municipality. It would help if you could share a bit about your experience or the person you’re recommending.

Watch for our Kids in Crisis series to launch this fall on jsonline.com and in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel print edition.