OLA of Eastern Long Island holds first Youth Summit to discuss concerns about mental health access

Latinx youth from the East End came together Monday to discuss their concerns about access to emotional and mental health access.

News 12 Staff

Aug 16, 2022, 2:39 AM

Updated 618 days ago

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Latinx youth from the East End came together Monday to discuss their concerns about access to emotional and mental health access.
The Organizacion Latino Americana (OLA) of Eastern Long Island held their first Youth Summit Monday.
It was the idea of a 21-year-old who says she hopes the summit is the beginning of talking and listening to mental health issues.
Those who came out made a list of three barriers they say need to be addressed.
They include money, lack of awareness and parents.
Organizer Emily Lupercil says those lacking health insurance out-of-pocket costs for mental health professionals prevents many from getting the help they need.
"...Most of the people here come from Latino families and we talked a lot about generational trauma so when certain families go through certain traumatic things in their life, they're just taught to push it aside and keep on going," Lupercil says.
East Hampton High School student Daniel Torres says the meeting was a comfort zone for students like him to talk about issues they have that they hope their parents will eventually become comfortable talking to them about.
"...I think being around other people our age it was really a lot easier to have more meaningful and deep conversation," Torres says.
The group is going to take their list and hand it off to officials in the community who can help make a change in their needs.


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