Health department’s mental health program for youths grows to include South Omaha
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) -Nature and poetry are two things that some say calm the nerves.
“It makes me relaxed and have an open mind about what I’m doing,” said 11-year-old Maciel Chaidez.
Chaidez was one of several kids taking part in Tuesday’s activities at Lauritzen Gardens as a part of Project New Lens. The Douglas County Health Department piloted the program last summer for North Omaha youth, giving them outlets for how to address their mental health.
“That’s really what this project focuses on,” said community health worker Jordan Cedillo. “Decreasing that negative stigma surrounding not only therapy, but mental health support.”
This summer, it’s expanded to South Omaha.
“In South Omaha, there can be a stigma surrounding in older generations and parents,” Cedillo said. “So we want to work with the youth to show them it’s okay to talk about these feelings. It’s okay to work through your emotions in a healthy and positive way.”
“Just kind of being able to tie it into their culture and who they are as a person trying to figure out better ways that they can relate it to their own culture and kind of how their family can relate to it as well,” said community health worker Alejandra Pacheco.
They don’t always meet at Lauritzen Gardens though. One day, they’ll work with horses. On another, they’ll hit heavy bags and speed bags at Bud Crawford’s gym.
So far, kids like Chaidez said they’re learning how to cope.
“You can go outside or inside to meditate...or just draw stuff, like in open fields,” he said. “There’s many different ways to relax yourself, and don’t focus on the bad stuff. Instead, focus on the good stuff.”
Families don’t pay for their kids to be in the Project New Lens program. The health department said it gets funding through a CDC infrastructure grant and private donations. If you would like to give or sign you own child up to be in the program, call Jordan Cedillo at (402) 616-4655.
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