Team Spotlight: School-Based Counselor Dayana Pazan, Civic Leadership Academy and Pan American International High School

This piece is part of a series of spotlights on our New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) Suicide Prevention Program (SPP) team members at Pan American International High School and Civic Leadership Academy. We asked each team member 1) why this work is important to them and the people they serve, and 2) to describe a memorable moment or client that stands out to them about why they do this work. 

This work is important to me because I strongly believe that children's mental health starts at home. It can be difficult for children to thrive when parents do not have the tools or support they need themselves. That’s why we need to bring awareness to the needs of parents and provide them with resources, education, and a safe space to learn and grow.

Recently, I facilitated a workshop on anxiety and depression for parents. This experience was especially meaningful because mental health is still a taboo topic in many immigrant households. It filled me with immense gratitude to see the parents receive the workshop with openness, appreciation, and a genuine desire to learn more. Afterward, many parents approached me and shared that they had experienced anxiety and/or depression themselves. They told me the workshop helped them feel safe enough to finally say those words out loud. Knowing that I was able to create a space where they felt seen, heard, and supported was incredibly rewarding.