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Local organization holding retreat for teen girls to provide mental health support


Local organization holding retreat for teen girls to provide mental health support (Alisha Stevenson)
Local organization holding retreat for teen girls to provide mental health support (Alisha Stevenson)
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CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A special event created for teen girls could help those struggling with feelings of isolation throughout the pandemic.


The Junior Melanin Collective is inviting teen girls to a special retreat called “I am me”.

"We want to give them that intimate attention,” said Alisha Stevenson, the secretary of the Melanin Drip Collective. “We will do workshops on depression, suicide, self-care, coping, and we will have some fun, too. We're going to do the makeup, dress up, give them a photoshoot. You know, make them look cute and feel special. We have some great things planned. Meditation, mindfulness to kind of help reduce stress and anxiety."

Stevenson and founder Bridget Jones spoke with Local 12 to share more about this weekend retreat on our Sunday 6 a.m. show "What’s Happening in Health." They stated a teen version of the Melanin Drip Collective, which hosts regular teen mental health programs throughout the year.

Jones says they chose the name Melanin Drip because, "It's pouring from a place of abundance and overflow, and just pouring back into our communities and giving back."

The Surgeon General recently issued an advisory saying the pandemic has intensified mental health struggles that were already widespread among teens. Several organizations, including the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, declared a national emergency after there were 50% more suspected suicide attempt-related emergency room visits among girls 12 to 17, compared to before the pandemic began.

The Junior Melanin Collective is hosting the teen girls’ overnight wellness retreat at the Brace Building on Compton Road from March 19-20. The cost is $199.

If you would like to have your teen attend the retreat, click here.

If you would like to sponsor a teen for the retreat, or if you would like to make a donation, click here.

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