Native American youth panel emphasizes this mental health message: It’s always acceptable to ask for help [Video]

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (KABC) — A group of Native American teenagers held a panel discussion on mental health issues affecting teenagers as a part of Native American Heritage Month.

The discussion was titled “Never a Bother: Real Talk from Native Youth on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention,” and was broadcast by KVCR public television in conjunction with First Nations Experience television.

“There were definitely differences between when I was in school and when youth are in school nowadays,” said host Mateo Moctezuma Ortega with the Sierra Native Alliance. “Teaching them what a friend is; what a healthy mentor is; teaching them the differences between reality and social media reality. A lot of times what they see on social media doesn’t match in real life, so that definitely causes (youth) a lot of confusion.”

One of the students on the panel, Penelope Hyde, who grew up in the Inland Empire, said some of the biggest challenges Native teenagers face involve substance abuse.

“A lot …