As a mother, there is no greater heartbreak than losing a child. In 2011, I lost my son Charlie to an OxyContin overdose. He was just 21 years old. Charlie had struggled with anxiety, depression, and substance misuse for most of his young life. Despite having a strong support system and treatment options available, it still wasn’t enough.

 

That loss changed everything.

 

It opened my eyes not just to my own family's pain, but to the silent struggles so many young people face every day. Mental health challenges affect teens in every community. Nearly one in three experiences an anxiety disorder. Most eating disorders begin between the ages of 12 and 25. To navigate their pain, many teens turn to substances, self-harm, avoidance, or disengagement from school and relationships.

 

Just like physical health, mental health affects us all. But unlike physical health, many young people coping with mental illness and difficult emotional issues have little support. If a student broke his arm playing basketball, he will return to school in a cast. Everyone, including his teachers, will ask how he is. He will receive special treatment, maybe extra time to get to and from classes. People will offer to carry his books.

If a student suffered a panic attack and missed a day or more of school, would his fellow students and teachers treat him any differently when he returned? There would be no cast, no crutches, no visible sign of the pain he experienced. No one might ask how he is doing or offer a helping hand. Instead, he would be expected to simply pick up where he left off as if nothing had happened. The emotional toll such as exhaustion, shame, and fear of it happening again remains invisible. And because it is invisible, it is often overlooked or misunderstood. That student may feel isolated, unsure whether it is safe to speak up or ask for support. Too often, the response is silence, leaving young people to carry the weight of their mental health struggles alone.

 

It was that silence the Glowmedia Project set out to break.

 

Through storytelling that reflects the real experiences of youth, our films create space for understanding, connection, and dialogue. Each project is thoughtfully developed with input from students, educators, and mental health professionals, and is accompanied by resources that make it easy to engage these topics in classrooms and communities.

 

Our work began with one film, Warning: Take Only As Directed. When we toured it across the country, we met students, teachers, and parents who told us how much they needed more. So we listened. Today, we continue to grow our library, guided by the belief that when young people see their struggles reflected onscreen, they feel less alone and more willing to reach out for help.

 

Thank you for taking the time to learn about our work. And thank you for caring about the mental health and well-being of the next generation.

 

With gratitude,
Trish Glowacki
Founder & Executive Director, The Glowmedia Project