More than 1,300 students filled the San Pedro High School auditorium Friday, Feb. 21, hoping to see a performance by Grammy-award-winning singer/songwriter Miguel.
Instead of a song, however, the San Pedro High alum delivered a more important message about wellness, self-care and mental illness.
Miguel, a 12-time Grammy nominee, with one win, is an ambassador for Tangible Movements, a nonprofit formed by fitness trainer Torri Shack to inspire, educate and provide support for young adults struggling with depression, addiction, sexual and gender identity issues, and abuse.
ADHD, behavioral problems, anxiety and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 4.4 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 years old have diagnosed anxiety, and approximately 1.9 million have diagnosed depression, according to the CDC’s most recent available data.
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These numbers illustrated the message Shack shared with the students: They aren’t alone. Shack spoke of suicide being the second-leading cause of death among teenagers. She also told her own personal story of two suicide attempts — yet today, she lives a happy life and does not let mental illness define her.
And she spreads that message through the celebrity ambassadors associated with her company.
Miguel was an obvious celebrity to speak at San Pedro High School, having graduated from there in 2003. The musician, born Miguel Jontel Pimentel, shared his personal struggle with depression and how he deals with it. He encouraged the students to have a purpose, set goals and to have a routine that will allow them to set their own intentions.
“Life oscillates. Depend on life being an up-and-down, challenging experience,” Miguel said. “Seek out things to help you cope, like therapy, meditation, and exercise.”
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