Teenagers and their families are invited to a mental-health festival at Maricopa’s Pacana Park in early May.

Express Fest, which runs 4-10 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, is aimed at providing mental-health awareness and resources for adolescents and their families.

“We really want to get people talking about mental health and seeing that it doesn’t have to be so taboo,” said Brianna Reinhold, clinical director of Northern Lights Therapy and among the event’s organizers. “It is going to be so much fun but also so important.”

The festival will feature a variety of teen-friendly activities, including games, raffles, giveaways and a movie screening to conclude the night. Food trucks, live music and vendors will be onsite.

Among the highlights will be a fishbowl discussion group, in which teens may jump-start conversations on difficult topics associated with mental health.

“We are hoping to bring more awareness to resources for mental health and teen-suicide prevention,” said Jelani Elliot, owner of For The Kulture and an organizer for the event. “We have had some devastating losses within our community and this is my way of giving back to and fighting for the lives of our Maricopa youth.”

Mental health among adolescents has waned in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One study showed that in 2021, 42% of high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless, which the CDC said was a possible indicator of depression.

That same study showed that 22% of teens seriously considered death by suicide and 10% had attempted suicide.

For Elliot, this issue hit close to home.

A flyer for Express Fest. Image courtesy For The Kulture.

“This battle was already a personal one for me but since the loss of my own son to suicide, it has now consumed me,” Elliot said. “It has become my life’s mission.”

Details: 4-10 p.m., Saturday, May 6 at Pacana Park, 19000 N. Porter Road. Admission is free. For more information, visit the Facebook event page.

Resources for Maricopa residents in crisis include: