Page 60 - August Life In Naples Magazine

#STANDUP WITH DAVID LAWRENCE CENTER FOR HEALTHY

MINDS AND SAFE KIDS; NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

NEW INITIATIVES. NEW LEASE ON LIFE.
G raduation parties and year-end celebrations for

the class of 2018 were dampened by deadly
shootings in the final days of school – one in
a Texas middle school followed days later by
another in Indiana. This, all while the Parkland school
shooting was still fresh in our minds and hearts. All
three shooters were students of the schools targeted – a
sobering reminder of the importance of students' mental
and emotional well-being.
Sadly, our children are more at risk than ever. At risk
of being bullied – in person or in cyberspace. At risk
of suicide. At risk of being exposed to deadly opioids.
Now, seemingly more than ever, when they walk onto a
school campus.
With 50 percent of all lifetime cases of mental
illness beginning by age 14, the time is now to intervene
to help our youth grow healthy minds and learn
effective coping strategies.
As kids head back to school this month, David

60 Life in Naples | Aug/Sept/Oct 2018