In this episode we get to know one of Pennsylvania's coolest youth, Brody Valentin! We talk about what emotions are to us, how overwhelming emotions impact us, and shed some light on the age at which youth are beginning to understand their emotions. You don't want to miss this one!

Brody is a 16-year-old 11th grader from Pennsylvania. He has struggled a lot with mental illness over the years due to parental abuse and having separated from his abusive mother at a young age. Growing up without a mother and living with an abusive father, Brody learned how to deal with heartache early. After losing his father to an asthma attack one September morning, he had to grow up fast, learning how to cook and use tools on his own. He had a difficult time in school due to being bullied and in 7th grade he experienced his first hospitalization. Thus began his journey to mental health recovery. Brody has been in and out of the psychiatric hospital over 10 times, been in partial programs 3 times and was placed in a residential treatment facility once. In residential, he experienced having his life threatened and was the victim of physical and sexual assault. Things became more challenging after he discovered he was gay in the 8th grade, but that didn’t stop Brody from finding his strength. This past summer he spoke at a conference where he had the chance to share his story with many people, during which he ended up meeting Youth MOVE PA. Now, Brody is very excited for what the future may hold.

Want to be a guest on OSIO? Email me at: chris@pmhca.org

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