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Local mental health advocates, experts provide resources to children

CHARLOTTE — Several local organizations addressed the need for mental health resources in our community Wednesday with a special focus on kids.

The groups are helping take the sting out of what can be tough conversations.

Mike Lee with Wellness Recovery Action Plan helped organize Wednesday’s event and he told Channel 9 he hopes to get kids talking about what they need to stay healthy.

“We must first ask them, ‘What is it that we can do to help you help yourselves?’ instead of us telling them what to do,” Lee said. “We’ve got to meet the kids where they are today and that’s the solution right now.”

The noon event invited kids and the public to participate in a panel at the Spectrum Center.

“When you start talking about mental health to a lot of my friends, they probably get creeped out because they’re not really used to talking about stuff like that,” freshman Imani McKoy said. “So it’s not something you’d bring up a lot.”

Afterward, 100 children, got a free ticket to Wednesday night’s Charlotte Hornets game.

“Today is the start,” Lee said. “It’s only the beginning.”

Mental health is a topic Channel 9 is passionate about and has covered extensively. We have a special section dedicated to connecting the community to resources; click here for more.

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