Our Viewpoint: It's OK to not have all the answers

When our reporter Shannon Brown started talking to schools about mental health, we had several conversations as a staff around the conference table about what direction the story would take. With three teens dying by suicide in the last six months, we felt the need to start a conversation. We watched schools and communities grieve and begin to heal. As journalists, how do we cover that? What can we do to help the communities?

After recent presentations at Thompson Falls High School, we decided it was our responsibility to keep the conversation going. Shannon spoke with all of the schools in the county, with law enforcement and mental health professionals. Her story, which is on page 1 this week, recaps what schools are doing to help teens manage mental health issues.

There are numerous factors that affect a person's mental health, be it environment, social status, resources available or family dynamic. No one's situation is the same, and no treatment, medication or solution is the same.

An easy step for us to take as a community is to keep the communication flowing. Have tough conversations with your kids. Reach out to people who seem a little down. Donate to organizations that provide other resources for community members.

I wish there was a magical answer to let people know everything will be OK and to let people know their worth and that things will get better. There isn't, but we can all do our part to support each other and open our hearts to others. And then, through our work, we can perhaps find the answers. — Annie Wooden