Mental health conversations are increasingly appearing online, but one local community is working to make them happen face to face.
A one-day youth summit was held this past Saturday at Miami-Dade College.
Hope for Tomorrow: Community Over Clicks Keeping Humanity in Mental Health was hosted by the Udonis Haslem Foundation.
The event addressed the growing crisis of child and teen suicide. Its goal was to remind young people, ages 6 to 19, that having open conversations about emotions and learning how to navigate difficult times are essential to building meaningful human connections.
Kristi Roberts, founder of Behind the Smiles, was one of the presenters. She started the group after losing her son Darius to suicide.
“We want to be there before you get to a crisis,” Roberts said. “We talk to you, or we listen or [give you] hugs.”
Behind the Smiles hosted an interactive activation that encouraged kids and teens to look beyond the surface. The three-part activity invited participants to reflect on how others see them, practice responding to real-life scenarios and share positive affirmations.
Participants heard from other licensed professionals and advocates about mental health, rather than relying solely on social media or artificial intelligence to navigate emotional challenges.
The summit’s message was simple: technology can connect people, but it cannot replace the human connection that comes from being seen, heard and supported.
