Joe Perry has been dealing with mental health issues all his life. Now 18, Perry has helped create a club that will live on long after he graduates.

GAHANNA, Ohio – Joe Perry has been dealing with mental health issues all his life. Now 18, Perry has helped create a club that will live on long after he graduates.

“I know how important it is to have a place to talk and feel heard.”

Perry says it was creative writing that saved his life. He was diagnosed with ADHD and ADHD, as well as disorders ranging from depression and anxiety. He says suicidal thoughts landed him in the hospital three times when he was 15 and 16 years old.

That’s why he knows.

Along with some friends and high school classmates of Gahanna Lincoln, Perry helped create a localized club called “Our Minds Matter.” It is a national organization that provides mental health tools for teens.

Along with some friends and high school classmates of Gahanna Lincoln, Perry helped create a localized club called “Our Minds Matter.” It is a national organization that provides mental health tools for teens.

With Gahanna Minds Matter, it’s a way for students to reflect on themselves while promoting mental health and self-love.

“You feel a lot less alone when you’re with people who feel similar emotions,” said second-year Lex Radde.

“I think the way it makes you feel is amazing,” said first-year student Isabela Rivera. “And really, it’s been amazing this year to have it.”

It’s a place to breathe and be heard, which helps break down these stigmatized barriers.

“I think it’s hard for people to talk about things like this,” young Brendan Phillips said. “[Students] feeling the need to keep it all. “

Perry leaves his fingerprints on this program, hoping to continue to mark the lives of students long after they graduate from high school.

“The icing on the cake is finding people who are as passionate about me as I am and that’s amazing because it’s not uncommon to find people talking about this particular topic,” Perry said.