Name: Young adults share mental health stories with high schoolers
Uploaded: 2025-11-25T01:12:38.920Z
Duration: 2 min 48 s
Description: Generation S.O.S. is bringing young adults who’ve faced mental health and substance-use challenges into high schools to speak openly with students. The program aims to break stigma, encourage honest conversations, and offer early support.

Generation S.O.S. is bringing young adults who’ve faced mental health and substance-use challenges into high schools to speak openly with students. The program aims to break stigma, encourage honest conversations, and offer early support.

A segment from CBS America highlights Generation SOS, a program where young adults who have faced mental health and substance abuse challenges share their experiences with high school students. The initiative, started after a series of student overdoses, focuses on prevention through peer-led conversations rather than traditional treatment approaches.

The report features students and founders who believe that open discussions about mental health can save lives and prevent future tragedies. The program is now national, with participants stating that sharing personal stories encourages true strength and helps reduce stigma among youth.

Young adults share mental health stories with high schoolers

In this week of family, feasting, and joyous celebrations, millions of Americans are struggling with their mental health. But we can be thankful that there is help. Elaine Quijano has tonight's Eye on America. He never once reached out for help. Diego Rapallo still remembers his last moments with his uncle, Matias Munez. He drove me to school, kissed me on my forehead, and told me he loved me, and I didn't know that it would be his last. Later that day, his uncle took his own life. Diego was eight. I always felt like I had to kind of be this tough guy all the time, because I didn't want to burden other people with that, with my problems. That's how we connect. Now in high school, he's learning a different way to cope with his mental health, and how early intervention can keep small struggles from becoming crises. At Jose Marti Mast Academy near Miami, Rapallo and his classmate, Elizabeth Valdez, lead their school's chapter of Generation SOS, sharing our stories. I can't not drink, because it's the only thing I know. It's the only coping tool that I have. The program brings in young adults who've struggled with mental health and substance abuse to have conversations with students. I don't feel like I'm being taught. I feel like I'm having a conversation. When you have somebody who's the same age, you're more open to listening to what they have to say. Even with recent declines, overdoses remain the leading cause of death for Americans 18 to 44. Yet much of the focus and funding still goes to treatment, not prevention. All we wanted to do was save kids' lives. Generation SOS began here in Robin Aviv's living room after six students in three months overdosed. Aviv, then a PTA president close to the school community, invited a young adult in recovery to share their experience. I am somebody in long-term recovery. I've lived this nightmare. It was my calling to do something because I knew I could do something. Life's difficult. She found an ally in Jim Hood, who left his corporate career to build this now national program after his son Austin died of an overdose. To say that's a soul-crusher would really be an understatement. It changes everything in your life. Their goal now? Help other families avoid the same pain. I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that if Generation SOS had existed, Austin might well be here. And it's why we do what we do. Every single one of us have that in our hearts. Back in Florida, Rapalo and Valdez say they're proof the program works. You speaking about your mental health struggles and openly discussing them, that is true strength. Sharing stories to save lives. For Eye on America, I'm Elaine Quijano in Hialeah, Florida.

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