Registration opens:
August 21st, 2026 at 9:00am

Mental Health and Youth

Community Conversations

How do we recognize what we're seeing and know where to turn?

Deschutes County has one of the highest youth suicide rates in Oregon. What do you wish the adults in this community understood — and did differently? Join local experts from NAMI, Youth Villages Oregon, and a Central Oregon high school counselor for an honest conversation about youth mental health in our community. Panel discussion, facilitated table conversations, and community dialogue.

According to Deschutes County Public Health, 58% of all youth deaths among 10–17-year-olds in Deschutes County from 2000–2020 were suicide — a rate that leads the state of Oregon. That's not a distant statistic. It's our community.

This Community Conversation asks three local voices — NAMI, Youth Villages Oregon, and a Central Oregon high school counselor — one essential question: What do you wish the adults in this community understood — and did differently? Through panel discussion, facilitated table conversations, and group dialogue, we'll explore what parents, educators, and community members can do — before kids reach a breaking point.

Community Conversations brings neighbors together to connect, share experiences, and listen with open minds. Through thoughtfully facilitated events, we provide opportunities for individuals with diverse beliefs to engage in meaningful dialogue, explore different perspectives, and discover common ground on the issues that shape our community. Our goal is to foster deeper understanding, stronger relationships, and collaborative solutions to local civic challenges. Together, we cultivate the trust and communication skills essential for a thriving and united Central Oregon.

Questions? Contact lizg@deschuteslibrary.org