Chiara de Blasio Is the Face of NYC Initiative to Fight Teen Depression
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The daughter of NYC mayor Bill de Blasio, 20-year-old Chiara, is now the face of a New York City campaign to alleviate teen depression, DNAinfo reports. Chiara was outspoken about her struggles with depression and substance abuse during her father's campaign for mayor in 2013.
Chiara visited Millenium Brooklyn High School on Tuesday with her mother Chirlane McCray to speak about her new initiative. In a time when teens hardly know how to speak on the telephone, the initiative will utilize texting as means to seek support for NYC high schoolers experiencing depression or sadness. Chiara had this to say about her new campaign, via the Times:
"Many New York teenagers aren't yet ready to speak their pain aloud," Ms. de Blasio said at a news conference at the school, as her mother, Chirlane McCray, stood by her side. "But they might be ready to text somebody who can help."
Ms. McCray, who introduced her daughter, cited a study showing that more than a quarter of New York City high school students said they felt sad or hopeless every day for two weeks or longer. Few reported seeking help from a counselor.
The initiative will be available initially as a pilot program to teens at ten city high schools, where sufferers of depression can text a number for counselor guidance.
Ten NYC high schools are participating in a pilot for a teen mental health texting service: http://t.co/0tsxhRTCQw pic.twitter.com/KGe9naASXg
— nycHealthy (@nycHealthy) March 25, 2015
[Image via AP]