Motivational Speaker Jeff Yalden spoke to the Valders Middle and High School students yesterday in advance of his presentation at the UWGB-Manitowoc Campus Theater. Yalden focuses his presentations around mental health, and suicide prevention, but he started out more passionate about sports and character. “That lead to ‘Who are you?’” Yalden explained. “’Are you playing because the fans are looking at you or are you playing because this is your love?’…That combined with me seeing what our teens are going through” made him bring it together. “If I’m able to share my story and it makes sense to them, that’s why we teach.”
While mental health is a major part of his presentation, Yalden told SeehaferNews.com that the message was really about life. He told us “Not all of the kids that were here today are dealing with mental illness. So I wanted to connect with them.” He also explained that for those who did suffer a loss, “I didn’t want to go back to those emotions, but my talk was really about ‘Who are you? ‘Where are you?’ and I wanted to say ‘Ok, here’s how you get there.’”
There has been a stigma surrounding getting help for mental health were people that seek help are seen as “week” or that there is something wrong with them, but Yalden says that the tide is slowly turning in that regard, thanks in part to lawmakers who are putting in “great efforts in trying to reduce the stigma.” That being said, Yalden told us “I think we’ll always have the stigma, but I think the more we can talk the more we’re gonna make people aware, and if people get comfortable with being uncomfortable talking about it, I think more change will happen.”
Chances are either you, or someone you know is going through a hard time mentally. Part of the problem, Yalden told us, is that “We live a very plastic, hidden life.” Sociasl media has become a big influencer of people’s mental state, as most will not post the negative parts of their life, but instead will portry their life as perfect, which makes others feel like their life is that much worse.
Mental health is a very fragile thing. Yalden told a story to the students about someone he is in contact with that changed their entire path through high school, because of one negative comment. He explained “We can say 100 times, ‘You’re smart, you’re strong’. One person can say ‘You suck’, and we spend the rest of our time remembering that one person’s negative comment.” During his talk, he explained that to the students, who hopefully understood the impact their words can have on their fellow man.
If you know someone that is struggling, Yalden explained that the best way to help is to be supportive. “Listen with non-judgement.” He said. “Validate their feelings and thought. Be patient. Support them and don’t fix it, but be willing to invest that time that they need.”
We also spoke with Alyson Taylor, a Special Education teacher at Valders High School, and member of the Valders Mental Health Task Force, who brought Yalden to the area. She was very impressed with Yalden’s presentation, calling him “captivating”. Shew was also very impressed by the engagement from the students, who were so quiet and attentive, “You could have heard a pin drop in that gym, which was impressive seing how many students he was speaking to.” Taylor loved the interaction Yalden had with the students including how he “physically demonstrated the journey of life, and how it’s not a contest.”
If you wish to learn more about Jeff, you can visit www.TheJYF.org. You can take a look at upcoming presentations, and purchase any of his multiple books. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
