VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Rose Meeske of Volusia County has turned personal tragedy into a mission of support and education. Following the loss of her daughter Maddie to mental health challenges in 2021, Rose, alongside her husband Joe, has expanded their nonprofit initiative, Youth Emotional Support (YES), to provide crucial training to therapists across Florida.
Maddie Meeske was a bright student and athlete, excelling academically with scholarships to Daytona State and Stetson University. However, in her teens, she quietly battled borderline personality disorder, prompting her family to seek specialized care outside their community.
Reflecting on Maddie’s struggles, Rose Meeske recalled, “We realized there was a gap in local mental health services. Maddie and I talked about how others must face similar challenges, and that’s when we started YES in 2019.”
Initially focused on providing wellness bags filled with self-care items to those in need, YES has evolved into a vital resource offering training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for therapists. Dr. Amy Hall, a licensed mental health counselor, emphasized the importance of DBT in reducing self-harming behaviors and suicide ideation.
“The training is extensive and expensive, taking about a year and a half to complete,” Dr. Hall explained. “Thanks to YES, 50 therapists across Florida have already received this invaluable training since July 2022.”
Rose Meeske expressed pride in YES’s growth, noting Maddie’s enduring influence. “Maddie would have been proud of what we’ve accomplished,” she said. “Through YES, we’re not only honoring her memory but also breaking down stigmas around mental health.”
Looking ahead, the Meeske family remains committed to expanding YES’s reach, ensuring no one faces mental health challenges alone in their community.
“We want to make a difference,” Rose Meeske concluded. “Maddie’s legacy lives on through every therapist we train and every person we support.”
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