LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Zach Thomas McDade is a big advocate when it comes to mental health: His parents, both of whom work in the medical field, instilled in him the importance of being physically, emotionally and mentally healthy.
“I feel like a lot of people of my generation are emotionally ignorant because we have emotions and feelings but we don’t have a way to express them so they come out as anger or depression,” Thomas McDade said.
Now he participates in group counseling sessions, breaking down the stigma surrounding therapy by letting others know it’s okay to ask for help.
“I think more young people should go to these meetings to learn about mental health because it’s something that parents don’t teach at home,” Thomas-McDade added. “I think what I try to do personally is be an emotional leader. I see a lot of young men my age who are emotionally upset and I try to stay calm and keep them calm and they follow suit, so it’s always good to be a leader.”
Myron Mingo of Mingo Health Solutions said there are many barriers to treatment, including cost and access.
“There’s a lot of stigma and a lot of things that come with it, so we do what we can to break down those barriers and make it as easy as possible and let people know they’re not alone,” Mingo explained.
That’s why the organization offers free or low-cost individual and group therapy sessions to children from kindergarten through high school and their families.
“Especially because there’s a stigma attached to therapy, not every child wants to sit in a room one-on-one with a therapist and talk about what they’re going through, so we’re fortunate that we can accommodate groups,” Mingo added.
The biggest issues Mingo sees among teenagers today are fitting in, navigating everyday relationships and the impact of social media use.
“Social media is so prevalent now and there’s so much that comes with it. It may seem normal from the outside, but teens are much more immersed in it than we are as adults,” Mingo said.
Clinicians are trained to address disparities regarding ethnic minorities and people of color.
“We have community advocates for that very reason. If you’re struggling to find food, if you’re struggling to find a minority doctor, if you’re struggling to find a place where you feel safe and where you have support, we have someone in the community that can go out with you,” Mingo responded.
To learn more about Mingo Health Solutions’ services, click here.
