BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – Getting our teenagers to talk about their feelings is difficult, especially if they are struggling.
But control our children mental health is vital, and if they don’t want to talk to us, where can they go where they feel comfortable sharing?
Many students ended this school year on a somber note and headed into summer break dealing with so many emotions.
Now, there’s a special place that combines all the joys of summer camp with therapy.
This school year ended on the heels of another shooting tragedy, leaving students and parents with heavy hearts and many questions.
Child therapists in Metro Detroit are helping students outside of the classroom at a summer camp.
Local 4 spoke with Children’s therapist Brooke Bendix on Camp Therapy.
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“Camp is a safe space and it’s a place to have fun, it’s a place to connect with others and also to connect with yourself,” Bendix said. “So we call it Camp because that’s the feeling we want you to have. And it’s also, you know, a place where you can feel safe and talk about mental health issues.”
Camp Therapyology, it’s like the therapy has been snuck into a fun camp-like environment.
“So it’s a lot more than what a typical summer camp really is,” Bendix said. “This is about addressing the needs that children and adolescents have right now in our world, which need to be addressed.”
Therapists like Bendix say their younger patients are experiencing high rates of anxiety, depression and loneliness, and that the support they provide with regular therapy is simply not enough.
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“I’ve never seen more kids and teens reach out and want to have a therapist who wants to go to a group or a camp and really talk about their mental health and be great mental health advocates,” says Bendix. “Which is amazing.”
They cover various issues and topics, such as how to deal with mean girls, LGBTQ, developing healthy coping skills, navigating friendships, family issues, or just about anything tweens or teens might be going through right now.
“I think one of my favorite group topics that I talk about a lot is taboo topics,” Bendix said. “And it’s anything from suicidal tendencies to eating disorders to self-harm, even what’s going on in the world right now and the shootings that are going on. And they don’t talk about it enough in schools, and I understand why. But they need a place, a safe space to talk about it.”
The camps are held at various times this summer and are open to different ages for both boys and girls. Click here to find more information.
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Related: Get the Help You Need: Where to Find Mental Health Services in Southeast Michigan
Read more: Ways people make mental health a priority and why it’s so important
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with suicidal thoughts, you’re not alone. Help is available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for support at 800-273-8255. Click here to find hotlines near you.
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