OCPL among six U.S. public libraries to participate in Nourishing Minds initiative

The Ohio County Public Library has been selected as one of six libraries across the country to participate in an initiative aimed at focusing on addressing the teen mental health crisis in the United States.

Director Melanie Warga received an email last year about the initiative that was started by the Seattle Public Library in 2022. SPL joined with two other libraries to create the Nourishing Minds initiative in an effort to destigmatize discussing young adult mental health.

“Obviously they are not trained professionals. This is not about clinical trials or about diagnosing or treating anything, this was merely to start conversations and let teens know it is OK to discuss mental health issues,” Warga said of the program.

The Seattle Public Library was looking for six different libraries across the United States to participate in the program while it was still in the testing phases.

Warga gathered statistics from local law enforcement and the school system to make sure the library had as much information as it could about Ohio County and its teenagers and the environment they live in and she filled out the application.

“After I compiled all the information and statistics and applied, I assumed I would never hear from them again.”

She assumed wrong. She received a follow-up email asking to interview her and Teen Librarian Chyanne Weber. A month after the interview Ohio County Public Library was accepted into the program – one of six public libraries nationwide.

“That was unthinkable,” Warga said. “We were a bit shocked.”

After attending several different practice sessions with the other libraries and the founding libraries, OCPL will host six two-hour long sessions that will include activities, games and other materials to help destigmatize and build skills for teens to better understand their mental health, Warga said.

“We want them to provide resources in their own community to assist them and give them a better grasp on the positive mental health around them,” Warga said. “We do understand that not everyone has a positive mental health environment around them and we are trying to help them realize that there are some positives out there and to find out where they are.”

Each week participants will take part in activities that will show them different areas of mental health they can focus on whether it is emotional, physical or environmental.

Warga said she was interested in applying to take part in the program because mental health is something that so many people struggle with and that everyone has to deal with to some degree.

“We try to offer a lot of teen programs and we have seen the number of teens grow from year to year, so we are really hoping that this initiative will also approach a different side that we haven’t touched yet – not just to offer them something entertaining but something very nourishing too.”

“We saw a need in the community because we don’t have a lot of mental health resources for teens. So, I think this will be a good way for them to navigate their feelings and see the library as a place where they can go where they can just come and be themselves,” Weber said as to why she believes the program will be beneficial to the community.

Through the grant provided with the initiative, the library received $6,000 in funding which they will use to help compensate those attending with snacks, gift cards and a “swag bag” of resources.

The program begins March 23 and will be held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on various Saturdays through June for youth ages 13-18. Those interested in attending are asked to register on the library’s website.

The goal of the program is to help teens gain confidence and strategies for proactively managing their own mental health.

Nourishing Minds is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Service. The Nourishing Minds team includes staff from the Seattle Public Library, The Meridian (Idaho) Library District and the Charles County (Maryland) Public Library.