Youth Leadership Bedford is hosting a Benefit for Hope event on April 15 at Shelbyville Central High School.

All proceeds will be allocated toward scholarships for students who need mental health counseling but cannot afford it. Sparked by the recent suicide of a Cascade High student, this is the first time Youth Leadership Bedford is doing an event to raise funds and awareness for students’ mental health challenges.

“In recent years, there’s been multiple student suicides in multiple schools. So, we came together as a group to do a benefit dinner,” said Youth Leadership Bedford Vice President Taylor Dowell. He is also a senior at Cascade High School.

They hope to target high school students and lead them to programs like the Jason Foundation. According to the Center for Disease Control, youth and young adults aged 10 to 24 years account for 14% of all suicides. For this same age group, suicide is the second leading cause of death.

Social pressure

Mental health looks different today than it did years ago. Dowell said in school, bullying is virtually nonexistent. But it’s social media that’s a major influence on young minds.

“I’d say it’s the social pressures of people posting things online being perfect. It’s not directly bullying, but it’s like people don’t feel good about themselves because they see what other people have,” he said.

Senior year, especially, is a difficult time. Dowell explained it’s that stage in life where you are both an adult but still bound to school and home. “There’s a lot of social pressures you’re beholden to, like a bunch of little cliques; you can become kind of an outcast,” said Dowell.

But, overall, Dowell said he hopes the event will bring more awareness to mental health and resources people can use to help if they are struggling.

“I’ve enjoyed seeing how many people have come together to support a common cause,” said Dowell.

Event details

The event will have a silent auction beginning at 4:30 p.m. They are also having live music. Plates are $20. For inquiries, send an email to ylb.benefitforhope@gmail.com by the end of March.

They are still in need of sponsors and auction items. Contact ylb.benefitforhope@gmail.com if you are interested.

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficult thoughts, call 988, which is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Help is available.