JCK Foundation Works with Students on Mental Health and Wellness
For the second Friday Forum of the 2024 fall semester, Millbrook School welcomed John Tessitore and Kevin McMahon from the JCK Foundation—an organization dedicated to educating young people about mental health—to share about their mission. The speakers were introduced by alumnus Chris Torres ’24, who explained how their work had strongly impacted his life when he was a high schooler.
Tessitore and McMahon began the forum by opening up about their own struggles with depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They then worked with their audience to dig into the definitions and implications of empathy and vulnerability, pointing out how important it is for someone battling with mental health to share their feelings and for those around them to be empathetic allies. The two speakers illustrated their points with deeply personal anecdotes.
Tessitore shared about his initial fear of revealing to his friends that he was dealing with OCD, as he was worried they would view him as weak. He developed unhealthy coping mechanisms that landed him in constant trouble at school and hurt the people he loved most. However, when an older friend he admired— John Clever Kelly, the namesake of the JCK foundation—told him he also had OCD and offered to help, Tessitore discovered the power of empathy that ultimately saved his life. Kelly’s mentorship inspired Tessitore to become an ally himself. So when his childhood friend, McMahon, was going through a debilitating bout of depression, Tessitore was ready to provide empathy and guidance. Ultimately, McMahon received the help he needed and dedicated his life to helping others manage their mental health.
Tragically, Kelly succumbed to his mental health issues, but his legacy lives on though his impact on Tessitore and McMahon’s lives and the foundation they run in his honor. Their message undoubtedly resonated with the audience of high schoolers, providing tools for not only accepting their own mental health needs but also their classmates’. As McMahon noted during the presentation,
“When it comes to empathy, it’s not the understanding that’s the most important part. It’s the attempt to understand, right? It’s stepping outside of your judgements, your feelings, your beliefs, trying on someone else’s situation. Saying to yourself, ‘If that was me, what would I need the most? I’m going to do whatever I can to give that to that person in my life.’”
Tessitore and McMahon didn’t just speak at the students and leave. They shared their contact information at the end of the presentation and encouraged anyone who needed help to reach out and stay in contact. Also, the speakers stuck around to enjoy Fall Fest Weekend activities that night, and they led small groups of IVth formers in mental-health discussions during Saturday Morning Programming.
“Getting help is the most courageous thing any high school student can do,” said Tessitore. To ensure students always have easy access to the assistance they need, Millbrook fosters a strong support network of dorm parents, peer supporters, and professional counselors.No comments have been posted
