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She went from a ‘dark period’ in high school to preaching about suicide prevention

Miami Herald 

March 10, 2023

Mecca McCain remembers being as young as 11 when she first began cutting herself with a steak knife hidden in her bedroom.

The University of Miami junior remembers experiencing drastic mood swings, feeling sad, anxious and losing interest in activities, including her passion for fashion. She was one of a “handful of Black students at a predominately white, elite private school” in Washington and was not doing well in school. And, sometimes, she had suicidal thoughts.

“I wasn’t able to take care of myself, I had a really hard time, even getting out of bed to go to school in the morning, maintaining friendships. It was just a very, like, dark period for me,” said McCain, now 21. “And again, I didn’t know what it was, I didn’t know what to do. So, I kind of just kept everything to myself.”

Her mom, she said, saved her life by getting her started in therapy with a psychiatrist. Working with her mother, the physician admitted her to a psychiatric hospital during high school, where she began taking medications. She’s now a young adult presenter for the Miami-Dade chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness program “Ending the Silence,” a prevention and early intervention program for middle, high and college students.

“I went from thinking that I wouldn’t graduate high school to almost graduating UM … I went from dealing with haunting thoughts of suicide ideation to become a suicide prevention instructor,” said McCain during a recent panel discussion at NAMI Miami-Dade’s first South Florida Suicide Awareness conference at the University of Miami.

The conference comes during a time when many teens and adults are contending with mental health challenges brought on by the disruptions and isolation of the pandemic. The issue is particularly acute among teen girls, who are experiencing record high levels of violence, sadness and suicide risk, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

TEEN GIRLS EXPERIENCING INCREASED SADNESS

CDC SAYS Nearly 3 in 5 (57%) U.S. teen girls “felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021 — double that of boys, representing a nearly 60% increase and the highest level reported over the past decade,” the CDC says. The report, which came out in February, also found more than half of LGBTQ+ students had recently experienced poor mental health and that more than 1 in 5 attempted suicide in the past year.

In Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the importance of mental health was pushed to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the school district working to identify at-risk students. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in children ages 10-14 and young adults ages 24-34, based on 2020 data, according to the CDC.

“They came back to us hurting and we’re still dealing with that fallout currently,” said Frank Zenere, a school psychologist and district coordinator for Miami-Dade Schools Crisis Program Division of the Office of Mental Health and Student Services.

Zenere said the school district is focusing on identifying at-risk students and is focused on preventing suicide through a variety of initiatives, including through mental wellness clubs. Partnering with NAMI and starting in September, all employees will receive two hours of suicide prevention training as part of the district’s efforts to become certified suicide prevention schools. The district also has a mobile response team and has contracted with mental health providers as part of its risk assessment and intervention strategy.

Suicide was the 12th leading cause of death in the United States in 2020; an estimated 1.2 million adults attempted suicide that year, the CDC says.

HOW TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH, REDUCE SUICIDE IN SOUTH FLORIDA 

In South Florida, some of the challenges involve breaking the stigma around mental illness, particularly among Black and Hispanic communities, and ensuring those who need treatment can get access to high-quality affordable care, said Dr. Stephen McLeod-Bryan, a University of Miami clinical associate professor and president-elect of the Black Psychiatrists of America and Dr. Patricia Junquera, interim chair and associate professor of the department of psychiatry and behavioral health at Florida International University.

“Our communities more often than not are overrun with alcohol, drugs, guns and lack of opportunities… The opportunities to gain access to treatment, mental health providers that can specifically help those who are suffering from depression, anxiety, psychosis is less available,” said McLeod-Bryan.

He said that many Black people who need help often are seen in emergency rooms because they don’t know where to go for help or were taken there by law enforcement. And while the suicide rate in Blacks is not as high as among whites, “The gap between Blacks and whites is shrinking and its shrinking fast,” he said.

There also needs to be more Spanish-speaking providers who ask specific questions to understand how patients are feeling, and more information disseminated in Spanish about the importance of mental health, said Junquera.

Outreach is also critical, experts say. NAMI Miami-Dade offers a variety of free programs, including peer support groups and QPR, which is a suicide prevention training. The organization is hosting a walk for mental health awareness at loanDepot park, the home of the Miami Marlins, on May 20.

And most importantly, people at risk need to get help quickly, said John Newcomer, president and chief executive of Thriving Mind South Florida and Joseph Parks, medical director of the National Council on Mental Wellbeing.

The country, for example, has seen success with last year’s roll-out of 988, a three-digit phone number that connects people experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use, mental health crisis or emotional distress with trained crisis counselors via phone, text or chat. The free round-the-clock service, which was formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, saw a 45% increase in overall volume last year compared to August 2021.

The average speed to answer has now decreased from 2.5 minutes to 42 seconds, with 80% of problems resolved on the phone, experts said during the conference.

But 988 is like a “funnel” and is only part of the solution, said Parks. At the local level, communities need to develop a Behavioral Health Crisis System to connect police, fire, hospitals and other facilities that interact with people experiencing mental health crisis and examine data to create or improve response plans, he said. Newcomer said there will soon be four mobile response teams in Miami-Dade County, up from one.

“Waiting lists for service is a waiting list for the next crisis,” said Parks.

For NAMI Miami-Dade’s list of programs and resources, visit NamiMiami.org

Click here for PDF of Herald article.

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Thriving Mind | South Florida promotes access to e Thriving Mind | South Florida promotes access to effective, accountable and compassionate care for people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders. We fund and oversee a safety net of services for uninsured individuals in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties with support from the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families, and other public and private sources. Click here for help: www.thrivingmind.org
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Derek Moore, Thriving Mind’s peer services manag Derek Moore, Thriving Mind’s peer services manager, attended the Recovery Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., from June 8-11, 2025. As the premier gathering for recovery advocates, leaders, and organizations, the summit provided a valuable platform for networking, learning, and taking action to strengthen the recovery movement.

The event culminated in “Hill Day”, where attendees engaged directly with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for continued funding for Recovery Support. Derek was actively involved in these efforts, standing alongside staff from Fellowship Recovery Community Organization in Broward County to champion the cause. 

Derek was also pictured with the U.S. senator from Pennsylvania John Fetterman, underscoring the importance of legislative partnerships in supporting recovery services.

The summit was a powerful experience that celebrated the resilience and dedication of the Recovery Community, reinforcing the collective commitment to advancing recovery initiatives nationwide.
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Knowing the risk factors can make us more aware an Knowing the risk factors can make us more aware and help stop a crisis. These risk factors don't mean someone is having suicidal thoughts, but it is important to have a conversation with the person. #RecognizeTheRisk Click here for help: https://thrivingmind.org/crisis-support
New Hope holds the Double Trouble Group on Wednesd New Hope holds the Double Trouble Group on Wednesdays, at 1 p.m. at the Recovery Drop in Center in Homestead. See flyer for more info.
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Arianna Stone knows first-hand the powerful impact Arianna Stone knows first-hand the powerful impact therapy can have on mental health.

From an early age, she felt a calling to work with young people. Her professional journey reflects that commitment, from her time as a preschool teacher to serving as a registered behavior technician, then a mental health specialist on an inpatient unit for children and adolescents. Today, she works as a certified recovery peer specialist at Jackson Community Mental Health Center, continuing her mission to support youth. 

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After experiencing a difficult breakup, Stone sought help through behavioral health services. It was then she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I was adamant about learning what was going on with me,” said Stone, 25, of Sunrise. That determination led her to pursue higher education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently completing her master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Nova Southeastern University, with graduation expected later this year. 

Originally from Jamaica, Stone moved to South Florida around age 8. She recalls struggling with anxiety and depressive episodes as a teenager but feeling unable to seek help due to cultural stigma. 

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Today, Stone channels her experiences into advocacy and empowerment. She authored Serene Reflections Wellness Journal, a guided journal that encourages mindfulness, gratitude, and goal setting. 

“Teenagers need something to work toward, a goal,” she said. “That sense of purpose can help ground them.”

When she is not working, Stone enjoys attending church, where she is an active volunteer, as well as reading, bike riding and the occasional relaxing “spa day.”

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