Lee Thompson Young’s mother starts foundation to raise awareness on mental health

Lee Thompson Young’s mother has started a foundation in honor of her son.

Lee Thompson Young was an accomplished actor and rising star.

I was introduced to Young when he played “Jett” on the Disney Channel show “The Famous Jett Jackson ” I instantly fell in love with his chestnut eyes and impeccable acting skills.

Young’s career took off. He would go on to star in a McDonald’s commercial with Michael Jordan.

From there, he landed roles in various prime-time television shows, such as

• “Friday Night Lights,” “Smallville,” and “Scrubs,” as well as films, including “The Hills Have Eyes 2.”

As his career blossomed, little did I know, the handsome actor I grew to love was battling a mental illness.

In his late teens, Lee was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar is a mental health condition that is associated with episodes of mood changes ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.

Lee managed his illness with medication and therapy for several years. He did this all while continuing to build a successful acting career.

Unfortunately, in 2013, Young died by suicide at 29 years old.

“At the time, I didn’t live near Lee. I lived across the country. When I’d talk to him on the phone, I couldn’t tell he was in crisis. He was a very good actor,” his mother, Velma Love, told Healthline.

Lee Thompson Young Foundation

Love remembers her son as a caring, kind person who was deeply aware of social issues and sought out creative ways to impact society. To honor his life, Love and her daughter, Tamu Lewis, established the Lee Thompson Young Foundation in 2014.

“Losing Lee was a tremendous shock. Immediately it brought to my mind the need for more education about mental illness. Especially, the stigma associated with it. We [wanted] to do something to help other people and prevent other families from losing someone by suicide,” said Love to Heathline.

The Lee Thompson Young Foundation focuses on erasing the stigma associated with mental illness through various awareness efforts, including its MIND program.

“The MIND program is for administrators and school personnel working with children K-12 so they can learn the broad spectrum of mental health — trends, what to look for in children, when to recognize help is needed, and how to create bridges to resources in their communities,” Stephanie E. Johnson, owner of NaviPsych and executive director of the Lee Thompson Young Foundation, told Healthline.

In addition, the foundation has developed a 5-week Emotional & Resilience Training Program based on Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques.

Youth are taught how to recognize the convergence between meeting their basic human needs, learning self awareness, awareness of others and their environment, and recognizing how to change patterns of thoughts and behaviors to increase resilience and self advocacy.

What a great way to break down the negative stereotypes about mental illness. Attacking the stigma lets others know in the fight, it is okay to seek help and you are not alone.

Learn more about the foundation

To learn more about Lee Thompson Young Foundation, visit them on Facebook.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.