OPRF High School hosts a free session Oct. 14 to help parents tell normal teen behavior from mental health warning signs.

The pop-up, titled "Spot the Signs & Start the Conversation," runs from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, at OPRF High School, 201 N. Scoville Ave. The district's announcement says the session will cover how to recognize when a teen may be struggling with mental health and strategies for talking with them about it.

The session is open to all parents and guardians regardless of their student's grade level. No pre-registration is required. Snacks will be provided.

Latest in District 200's Parent University series

The Oct. 14 event is the latest in District 200's Parent University Pop-Up series, which pairs short workshops with existing school nights. An Aug. 24 pop-up called "High School Success: What's the Secret Sauce?" focused on helping freshmen transition to high school. That session was led by OPRF mentor study teacher Cindy Wong and Partners for Mental Wellness, according to West Cook News.

The pop-ups are organized through the District 200 Wellness Collaborative, a partnership of local townships, school districts and mental health organizations. Partners have included River Forest Township, Oak Park Township, Districts 97 and 90, the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Positive Youth Development, Oak Park Public Library, Thrive Counseling Center and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Metro Suburban chapter, according to Patch. That list dates to 2023; current partners may differ.

What parents should know

The session takes place immediately before Junior Family College & Post-Secondary Planning Night, so families attending both can arrive early and stay.