MISSION, Kan. — Since its inception in 2018, Zero Reasons Why has been instrumental in advocating for teen mental health in Johnson County. The organization’s efforts have led to a significant 33% decrease in teen suicides between 2019 and 2020, according to Tim DeWeese, Director of the Johnson County Mental Health Center.
Trisha Rastogi, a member of the teen council, emphasized the importance of peer support within the initiative. “I’m able to provide a teen perspective of mental health,” Rastogi told KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree. “This culture of support, I just think it’s so powerful.”
When Johnson County officials delved into teen mental health issues, they discovered a crucial missing element: the teen perspective. Rastogi highlighted the value of relatability in support systems, stating, “It’s a little bit of like a sense of relatability knowing that somebody that you’re asking for support likely has gone through some of the similar things.”
As the new school year approaches, Zero Reasons Why is preparing to welcome its next cohort of council members. “We’ve gone seven years now. That means that there’s been a graduating class that leaves, and despite the leadership leaving, there still begins to be leadership that’s carrying on,” said DeWeese.
Cripa Gauba, another teen council member, joined Zero Reasons Why during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shared her mental health journey on the organization’s Instagram, reflecting on the pressures of academic validation. “I definitely would put so much pressure on myself needing academic validation and perfect grades and everything. And if I wasn’t able to achieve that, then I would feel bad about myself,” Gauba said. “I think really just shifting that focus from it’s not about those results, it really is about how you grow as a person.”
Gauba expressed gratitude for the supportive community she found through Zero Reasons Why. “This culture of support, I just think it’s so powerful,” she said.
Zero Reasons Why is set to host a leadership orientation for its next class of teen council members on Wednesday, July 31.
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