Bowen Health: Roundtable Addresses Youth Mental Health in Kosciusko County
Warsaw, IN – September 4, 2025) – Leaders from across Kosciusko County convened recently for a roundtable discussion on youth mental health. The event, hosted by Bowen Health, brought together professionals from healthcare, education, law enforcement, and the judiciary to address key mental health challenges facing young people in the community.
According to Dr. Rob Ryan, President and CEO of Bowen Health, the initiative began in 2023 at a mental health roundtable requested by then-Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch. He said the discussion left participants feeling energized and inspired.
“This experience motivated us to regularly host these important discussions in our counties, which is why we’re here today, said Dr. Ryan. “It’s as much a listening opportunity for us as it is a collaborating opportunity.”
The event brought together the following individuals and the organizations that they represent: Judge Karin McGrath, Kosciusko County Superior Court 1; Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith; Dr. David Hoffert, Superintendent, Warsaw Community Schools; Kara Shively, Juvenile Probation Officer, Kosciusko County; and Chris McKeand, Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy. And from Bowen Health: Dr. Rob Ryan, President and CEO, Shannon Hannon, COO; Dr. Siquilla Liebetrau, VP Clinical Services; Tess Ottenweller, VP Intensive Services; and Mark Groeller, Executive Director. Moderating the discussion was Michael Murphy, Director of Community Engagement, Kosciusko County.
Identifying Challenges
Several critical issues were highlighted by the panelists, including how the internet impacts the lives of young people, the importance of understanding the effects of smoking and obesity, and the importance of keeping kids on track and in school, in spite of life challenges.
Dr. Liebetrau said that youth suicide rates in Indiana are higher than the national average, and one in five Northwest Indiana youth report having suicidal thoughts. To combat these trends, she stressed the importance of open communication at home and keeping information flowing to youth.
“These are our kids. They’re having the thoughts,” said Dr. Liebetrau. It’s important for us to have those conversations and encourage youth so they can get the help they need.”
Cyberbullying can be particularly devastating when young people are undergoing a stage of development called individuation. Where they begin to form their own identities and start to question their parents’ beliefs as they figure out who they are, who they want to be, and who they want to be around.
“That’s why it hits especially hard when somebody starts attacking you based on the way you dress, who you hang out with, where you’re going or even if they start making false accusations,” said Dr. Liebetrau, adding close attachment to social media makes them additionally vulnerable. “If you’re not online, it’s almost like you don’t exist, so you have to be there,” she said. “And then if you are tortured online, it just makes it harder.”
Additional Challenges
The discussion also touched on the significant health challenges of smoking, vaping, and obesity among youth. Dr. Liebetrau said that it’s good that smoking rates are declining among youth, but vaping rates have surged, with many mistakenly believing it’s safer.
“Many people still think that vaping is a healthy alternative. It’s not,” said Dr. Liebetrau. “When we look at smoking, it really is the number one factor in both reducing life, not just number of years, but also quality of life.”
“When it comes to obesity treatment, that’s another one of those things we know steals both quality of life and the number of years you have,” she said. “Might be something we think of as an issue for adults, but obesity rates among youth are staggering. Even at an early age, we’re starting to see it’s leading to diabetes, heart conditions and all types of chronic conditions.”
Everyone agreed that keeping kids in school is a priority for supporting their mental health.
Kara Shivel said research across the board shows detaining or incarcerating youth is very harmful to their mental health.
“Incarcerated youth are two to four times more likely to engage in self-harming behaviors,” said Ms. Shivel. “It also has a negative impact on their education.” Studies show one-third of youth who miss a significant number of school days are likely to drop out of school. This hurts their mental health and is considered by both the courts and schools when dealing with these kids.
“One of the biggest issues that we have right now is attendance,” said Superintendent Hoffert. “Suspending students for attendance is not a good move. Finding the root cause of the problem, speaking with students and finding out what the issue is.”
Successes and Solutions
Despite challenges, speakers highlighted several successful community initiatives. Many praised the positive impact of School Resource Officers (SROs), noting their role in building trust and positive relationships with students from a young age. Sheriff Smith said his department works hard to assign the right people to those roles. Superintendent Hoffert thinks the effort has been a success.
“Your SROs, they are the most popular people inside our school,” said Dr. Hoffert. “They’re excited every day to be with kids and I can’t thank our SROs enough.”
Kara Shivel, coordinator for the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI), discussed the success of local programs that offer alternatives to secure detention, like Keeping It Real.
Keeping it Real is a credible messenger program where people in recovery come and share stories,” Ms. Shivel said. “We know that youth who hear from people who have been through life and struggles, they receive that message better than from someone who hasn’t.”
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the need for greater parent and community involvement. Dr. Hoffert pointed out that often, parents are not aware of possible resources for their children until they encounter a crisis.
“Those are the hardest conversations I have inside my office, because the parents are saying, ‘I just wish I would have known’.”
Continued Collaboration
“The most valuable thing that’s happening is a collaborative, integrative approach”, said Judge McGrath. She says regular meetings between the judiciary and organizations such as Bowen Health, the Department of Child Services, and CASA are creating new patterns that allow for opportunities to discuss the current needs of youth, while focusing on how to better address their issues. “Bowen Health is looking at this integrated approach to wellness and so forth, we’re trying to rally all of these different, interesting groups.”
“I look around the semi-circle and there’s no way that we can do what we’re doing in schools without each one of you helping, supporting and collaborating to bring it together,” said Superintendent Hoffer.
Tess Ottenweller lauded those gathered as doing the good work to not only provide solutions for kids, but to help strengthen them before they hit difficult times.
“We know that kids are resilient and protective factors are so important,” Ms. Ottenweller said. “Bad choices can happen. The more positives that we’re able to build into youth and families, really does make a difference.
Dr. Ryan said this roundtable discussion is the first of many that Bowen Health will be conducting across northern Indiana.
“We want to bring people together, to determine what we can do to close the gap on those few people that continue to fall through the cracks,” said Dr. Ryan.
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About Bowen Health
Bowen Health is a non-profit community health system committed to serving the underserved in Indiana. No one is turned away for an inability to pay. Bowen Health provides easy access to a wide range of healthcare services under one roof, including primary healthcare, dentistry, mental health care, and addiction recovery treatment, to help people live their best lives longer. For more information, visit BowenHealth.org.