This is Normal: A podcast about youth mental health

At a live event hosted by Marquette University and USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, young people shared their perspectives on their own mental health struggles, and what is needed to address the issue. Panelists were Parker Adams, Amaii Collins, Alexandra Schmidt and Jesse Pennington-Cross. The discussion was moderated by Rory Linnane of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Read more at http://www.jsonline.com/kidsincrisis. You can watch the video of the full Marquette event at...

Franki Moscato started performing when she was just 11. Now 17, the Oshkosh teen is opening up about her struggles with bullying and depression ahead of a turn on 'American Idol.' Find Franki's music at www.frankijo.com. Read the story that goes with this podcast: https://www.postcrescent.com/story/series/kidsincrisis/2019/03/13/franki-moscato-wisconsin-teen-singer-bullying-american-idol/3029800002/ See the trailer for our documentary collaboration with Milwaukee PBS:...

Kris Cahak had 15 years, two months and six days with her daughter Morgan Peiper. Today, she works to fight mental health stigma and help others.

Jose Morales was hospitalized last year after school stress led him to suicidal thoughts. He's not alone; many teens say the stress of school weighs on their mental health. Jose's family and friends helped bring him back. In this episode, we hear from him and others on what young people need to survive school. To read our report on school stress and see charts, click here: https://post.cr/2PdhKGQ

In this bonus episode, we share stories told by young people at our live events across Wisconsin. In order, you’ll hear: Brenda Wesley, Nekita Krisko, Tina Sutherland, TJ Esser, Kaitlyn Akey, Jordan Palmieri and Kris Cahak. For more from our Kids in Crisis series, visit www.postcrescent.com/kidsincrisis

Nick Becker's dad died by suicide a few days before Nick turned 5 years old. He has only a few memories of him. But he knows his father struggled with bipolar disorder — the same disease Nick, now 25, has struggled with since he was a teenager. Today Nick is a poet and a spoken word performer who uses his art to talk about mental health — and the importance of talking about mental health.

Jesse Pennington-Cross has Tourette's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. She's 12 years old, and her family has struggled to find help for her, at one point trying an intensive behavioral modification program that involved having Jesse wear a timer on her ankle. It made her miserable, and her family too. "It was heartbreaking," her mother said, "to realize I've been treating my child kind of like a trainable dog." Today, they're trying a new approach. They call it...

Lunch was always the worst for Isaiah Donaldson when he was depressed. He lived in fear of not finding a place in the cafeteria. He knew he was struggling, but he didn't want to bother his mom with it. Finally a friend reached out, and it changed his life. Read more about student-led mental health programs here: https://post.cr/2E4uUz6 Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.postcrescent.com/featured-newsletter/kids_in_crisis/

Erica Williams-Clark lost her cousin, Na’imah, to suicide in January 2017. She still thinks about her every day, and the loss has shaped her own decision to pursue a career in mental health.

When she was 14, Haley Olson’s stepfather held her family at knifepoint. She’s dealt with PTSD and anxiety in the years since. But she's also worked on healing, and connected with a youth group that took her all the way to Tanzania.

Karlee Gross experienced depression and anxiety attacks in high school, and attempted suicide. She got help that saved her life. Today she’s a high school senior, and she wants her story to help others.

'This is Normal' is a podcast where young people talk about their own struggles with mental health challenges -- and how they got through them. It's important to talk about it, because you're not alone, and things can get better. A production of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.