Congregation Shaare Emeth’s Mental Health Initiative (SEMHI) will hold a panel discussion on “Anxiety and Depression in Youth and Young Adults” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 1. 

The panel features three community members who have experienced the impact of the mental health crisis from different angles. Each will answer questions, lend insight to a challenging topic and share their stories. 

Panelists include:

• Dr. Dan Weinstein, a clinical psychologist who provides psychotherapy, psychological testing and evaluation services for individuals, families, and groups. 

• Ryan Kulage, development director for CHADS Coalition for Mental Health. He lives with clinical depression and general anxiety disorder, and works to raise mental health awareness in the region. 

• Amy Worth, a parent and educator who has a 17-year-old daughter and who lost her son, Michael, to suicide when he was 18. She and her family work to help people understand mental illness, be able to talk about it and prevent suicides in the future.

SEMHI is the congregation’s “response to to the mental health crisis in America,” read a news release, working “to raise awareness, provide resources and erase the stigma associated with mental health issues within the congregation and larger community.”

According to the National Alliance on Mental Health:

• One in four kids experience a mental health condition, but only 20 percent of them get help

• About 50 percent of students age 14 and over with a mental health condition will drop out of school

• Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for 14-24 year olds.

The March 1 event is free and open to the community. Shaare Emeth is located at 11645 Ladue Road. For more information, contact Jodi Miller at [email protected].