National mental health speaker brings tools for resilience to Union and Baker County students
By Tracy Christopher on Monday, September 29th, 2025 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
UNION & BAKER COUNTIES — Union and Baker County students recently had the opportunity to hear from Ivy Watts, a nationally recognized mental health speaker, author, and former All-American student-athlete. Watts visited schools in both counties to share her personal story of resilience and to equip students with practical tools to manage stress, self-doubt, and the pressures of everyday life.
Despite excelling as a college athlete and being named a Top 30 finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award, Watts shared that she quietly battled anxiety and depression. By opening up about her struggles, she encouraged students to break the stigma surrounding mental health and reminded them that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
During her sessions, Watts introduced strategies such as journaling, mindfulness, and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) tapping to help manage stress and overwhelming emotions. She emphasized the importance of self-reflection, daily check-ins, and seeking support from trusted friends, family, or adults when challenges arise.
“Your voice matters. You are worthy of care, and you are worth fighting for,” Watts told the students.
The visit was made possible thanks to the collaboration of many community partners, brought together by Union County CARE Coordinator Sheryln Roberts. Partners included New Directions Northwest, Intermountain ESD, Grande Ronde Hospital, Union County Safe Communities Coalition, the Center for Human Development, and OSAA. Roberts and Molly Smith, principal of North Powder School, along with Jenny Blair from New Directions Northwest, recognized a need for additional resources to support students’ mental health and helped bring Watts to the region.
Educators and community leaders praised the visit as a meaningful step in supporting youth during Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. Watts’ presentations not only encouraged self-care but also reinforced the importance of looking out for one another and building a culture of compassion and understanding.
Watts holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Haven and a master’s in public health from Boston University. She is also certified in Mental Health First Aid and has spoken to more than 200,000 individuals nationwide.
