ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Rochester City School District (RCSD) and the city of Rochester are hosting a mental health and substance abuse forum at the School of the Arts. The event will be held on Saturday, April 12 at 11 a.m. "Many of the challenges we have in our city and country are increasingly tied to mental health," Mayor Malik Evans said. The free event is to encourage youth ages 12 to 21 and parents, to have an open conversation about mental health and substance abuse issues to gain perspective, ask questions, voice concerns, and be provided with community resources. "Supporting the mental health of our students is essential to their success in school and life. When we create a safe space for open conversations about the challenges our children face, those challenges become more manageable," RCSD's Interim Superintendent Dr. Demario Strickland said. 2025 Clean Sweep date announced Collaborators and supporters include RCSD'S My Brother's Keeper Fellows, the Mayor's Office of Special Projects and Educational Initiatives, Teen Empowerment, Planned Parenthood, The Center for Youth, BreatheDeep, and In Control. For additional information and to RSVP, visit the city of Rochester's website here. ...read more read less