Doctors produce play to draw attention to teen suicide risk

Being a pediatrician means experiencing the highs and lows of kids everywhere. And to showcase that, one physician, the founder of Agave Pediatrics, found time to write, direct and act in the new play “Humerican Dreams”.

The play focuses on highlighting the issues seen every day in pediatrics and revolves around the life of first-generation immigrants specifically teenage depression.

On Horizon is pediatrician and founder of Agave Pediatrics, Dr. Rajeev Agarwal, and psychiatrist Dr. Padma Aking.

They tell us they created the play to draw awareness to the problem of mental health and help erase the stigma surrounding it.

Humerican Dreams was performed August 6 and 7 at Glendale Community College. Almost a dozen other physicians were involved in it. The play revolved around the life of first generation immigrants, with focus on teen depression and suicidal ideation. The play also highlights the cultural differences that the first generation immigrants and their children have to face.

The Humerican Dreams team donates all proceeds to Teen Lifeline, an organization that works in preventing suicidality in teens and helping support their mental health through enhancing resiliency in youth and fostering supportive communities.

Please check their website for more information: teenlifeline.org 

FINDING HELP

There are many places to find help in a crisis.

You can all the mental health crisis line in Arizona at 1-800-631-1314 or 602-222-9444.

The suicide and crisis Lifeline is now just three digits: 988.

The National Suicide Hotline is 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

Text HOME to 741741

And in Arizona, the Teen Lifeline is 602-248-8336.