Leah was eight years old when her father passed away from cancer. To try to cope with the loss, Leah’s birth mother began taking prescription medications and alcohol in excess, which resulted in her overdosing. Leah’s aunt and uncle took her in and adopted her. During Leah’s sophomore year in high school, there was a crisis point where she came close to being hospitalized because of her suicidal thoughts.

“The hardest part was feeling so helpless. We felt like there wasn’t anything we could do to help. Depression is like this for anyone. It kind of pulls everybody in, like a black hole. It’s not fun to talk about. But the more we can talk about it, the less people will feel alone,” says Jami.

With treatment at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health services, Leah has learned to manage her anxiety and depression. Now Leah and her mother Jami are advocates for Behavioral Health and work together to fight the stigma of mental illness. Although she will need to cope with these things for the rest of her life, her future is bright. Leah is currently enrolled in University on a music scholarship.

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• Name: Leah B.Leah Bennett
• Condition(s): Anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression
• Age at Treatment: 8
• Age Today: 08/19/199825 Years

Leah was eight years old when her father passed away from cancer. To try to cope with the loss, Leah’s birth mother began taking prescription medications and alcohol in excess, which resulted in her overdosing. Leah’s aunt and uncle took her in and adopted her. During Leah’s sophomore year in high school, there was a crisis point where she came close to being hospitalized because of her suicidal thoughts.

“The hardest part was feeling so helpless. We felt like there wasn’t anything we could do to help. Depression is like this for anyone. It kind of pulls everybody in, like a black hole. It’s not fun to talk about. But the more we can talk about it, the less people will feel alone,” says Jami.

With treatment at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health services, Leah has learned to manage her anxiety and depression. Now Leah and her mother Jami are advocates for Behavioral Health and work together to fight the stigma of mental illness. Although she will need to cope with these things for the rest of her life, her future is bright. Leah is currently enrolled in University on a music scholarship.