Tacos and bananas don’t necessarily go together at mealtime, but they do connect to an initiative for mental health awareness at the Western Wayne Middle School through their involvement in the Avedium program called the “Wear Your Care” campaign. Avedium is a US-based, student-led mental health awareness and suicide prevention program active in schools across the country. Created by students for students, its mission is to “shatter the silence” surrounding depression, suicide, and other youth issues. The name Aevidum means “I’ve got your back”.
As a follow-up to mental health awareness month students are “wearing their care” in the month of November to provoke discussion about emotional well-being. Members of the middle school Avedium group wore taco costumes to gather data on how many people who interacted with them during the day would sincerely check in on their mental state. Of the over one hundred interactions the students recorded, they reported only two remarks of genuine concern.
Western Wayne Middle School principal Casey Newcomer introduced the guest speaker at the Avedium mental-health awareness assembly on Thursday, November 20, and encouraged the student body to continue to strive to care about others in the school community as a priority.
Dr. Matthew Spott, local entrepreneur and suicide prevention counselor with the Crisis Line, Scranton, spoke to the students about his personal journey through mental health struggles. He is the Vice President of U.S. Sales for Uniphar, a global healthcare company that helps pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers connect with patients and healthcare professionals through education, medical information, and digital engagement.
Over his 17-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, Spott has worked with some of the world’s leading life science companies. In addition, he owns The Lovelton Hotel, a family-friendly sportsman bar, hotel and restaurant in Wyoming County; leads SpoSho Investments, a real estate company with more than 80 residential units and several community redevelopment projects; and through Spott Inc., he’s opening three new Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop locations throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.
Spott also has several ongoing development projects focused on repurposing abandoned and historic buildings across NEPA into modern, luxury condominiums.
He serves on the Board of Directors for NAMI — the National Alliance on Mental Illness — the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions.
Furthermore, he is the founder of Total Game Changer (TGC) — a mindset and motivation platform that challenges people to take control of their lives and reach their potential. Through TGC, he authored his first book, Game Changer: The Seven Mindsets of Solution-Based Selling for Life-Changing Results, which explores how adopting the right mindset can transform not just how you sell, but how you live.
He earned his Bachelor of Science in Management and Marketing from The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), an MBA in Strategy and International Business from Wilkes University, and a Doctorate in Organizational Development from the University of Southern California (USC).
Above all, Spott is a husband and father first. He lives in the Scranton area with his wife, DeAnna, and their three children, Matthew, Gianni, and Sicilia.
Spott started his presentation by telling a story about a seventeen-year-old young man who one day stood on a bridge contemplating suicide because he felt that his home situation was so terrible. Spott explained how the teenager decided to flip a coin to decide his fate. He later revealed that the struggling teen was himself.
Due to his own battle with mental health issues, Spott decided to dedicate his life to helping others who also struggle and face situations that he did as a teen. He explained that at sixteen he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. After his almost suicide attempt, he coped by being a bully to others until he was 23 years old. At 25 he had to enter a program for substance abuse, and he states that the experience saved his life.
“My life has turned around,” he explained. “It wasn’t easy. When I was younger, I didn’t know how to receive love and kindness. It felt better to make someone else feel horrible.”
After going to therapy for many years, Spott better understands how to handle his anxiety and other emotions. He explained revelations he had in therapy to the students.
“Everyone needs to find coping mechanisms,” he explained. “Talking is the number one thing we can do.”
He encouraged students to find positive outlets for their emotions. Spott recognized that the modern day is an incredibly difficult time in history for teens with the age of social media. He discussed how dopamine rushes are everywhere in the form of short videos, text messages, etc.
“The biggest joy I get right now is giving back,” he explained, encouraging the students to find outlets not connected to the internet to help make their lives more meaningful as his closing remarks. “There are resources all around if you need help. Be kind to each other. It costs nothing to be nice or to just not be mean to others. Be kind to yourselves first then you can be kind to others.”
Pictured is Dr. Matthew Spott speaking to the Western Wayne Middle School student body on Thursday, November 20.
