Mental Health at Forefront of Family Connection Event
By Rio White
Local motivational speaker and student ministry leader Ben Crawshaw has always been an advocate for mental health resources.
But he’s recently taken another step in his quest — specifically aiming his message to adolescents who are navigating a period of immense change in their lives.
Specifically, he wants kids to know two important things — that they have the ability to take charge of their mental health and that there are many adults who can serve as critical sources of help.
Crawshaw’s advocacy group Trusted Sources partnered up with Dawson County Family Connection to put together a free event for sixth through 12thg r ade st u d ents on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Veterans Memorial Park.
“One of the important things we can do is to get kids around each other outside having fun,” Crawshaw said. “Part of my goal is to get them realizing that there is somebody in your life…when you find yourself in a tough situation you can talk to.”
Wednesday night’s “Fun in the Park” had food, games and all-around fun for local kids, along with an important message.
Crawshaw spoke to the teenage group about “being your own DJ” and establishing their own “mental playlist” that could give them a sense of structure in the face of constant societal pressure at that age.
“Our thoughts determine our beliefs and our beliefs determine our behavior,” Crawshaw told the crowd. “You can control your thoughts. Just as it takes time for you to begin to believe negative things about yourself, it takes time for you to believe positive things about yourself.”
He also listed different types of people that they
could look to in times of need — especially when a teenager feels that no one is there to help.
“Sometimes you need to talk to somebody,” Crawshaw told the crowd. “You have options.”
Toward the end of his speech, Crawshaw brought out a multi-colored beach ball, with each section representing a different uplifting thought that each student in the crowd could use as part of their “mental playlist” going forward.
“The one person who will be on this journey with you from beginning to end is you,” Crawshaw said. “You can choose what you think about yourself. You can choose what you say to yourself.”
Ben Crawshaw holds a beach ball covered in uplifting messages during his speech at Veterans Memorial Park on Wednesday, Sept. 20.
Rio White Dawson County News