PAW PAW (WKZO AM/FM) Anyone who has experienced depression knows just how real it can be, but it can be particularly devastating for youngsters, who may not have the maturity or the opportunities an adult might have.
BE NICE, a new curriculum designed specifically to address the problem in elementary, middle and high school students, will be partially underwritten in Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties by The David Braginini Memorial Fund and available to school districts.
Braginini, the former CEO of St. Julian Wines passed away last year.
His niece Isabella, stumbled upon the formula accidentally when she was a teen. She suffered depression because of bullying and vowed at her new school that she would be the kind of person that she wished had been there for her, and she learned the difference that just a smile and a kind word can have.
Christy Buck, the Executive Director of the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan says they need to know that they are not alone, that they won’t be stigmatized if they come forward and if everyone would just BE NICE, a lot of suicides could be avoided. She says one in five children experiences some sort of mental health issue during their school careers. That means of the 50,000 school children in the two counties, about 10,000 could benefit from their campaign.
NICE actually is just an acronym for the fourth things they do to help teens get out of their depression. Notice they are hurting, invite them to get assistance, challenge and empower them.
The Braginini’s will be putting up half the money for the campaign in Kalamazoo and Van Buren County School Districts. They will expect the district to contribute some money and they are seeking donations. The Kalamazoo Foundation will be handling the gift giving.
You can do it online at www.kalfound.org/give or you can mail them a check and designate that it go to the David Braginini Be Nice Memorial Fund.
