Two weeks ago, Napa County Superintendent of Schools Barbara Nemko presided over the largest class in the history of the Napa County Office of Education’s parent education program, a standing-room only crowd of 500 people at the Napa Valley Opera House gathered to hear Madeline Levine, Ph.D., author of “The Price of Privilege.”

Dr. Levine shared that rates of anxiety, depression, other diagnosable mental health problems and self-destructive behaviors are increasing in youth and that a common theme expressed by youth who are suffering is “too much pressure.” She reports — corroborating comments by a Napa student in a letter to the Register Feb. 4 (“Homework is pointless”) — that too many students are working 12-16 hour days and that this is unacceptable. Getting a good night’s sleep (nine hours for teens), eating meals with family and having time to develop a sense of self and self-management skills are ultimately more important for healthy psychological development in teens than AP classes and participating in time-consuming extra-curricular activities, says Dr. Levine.

Ten students from Napa schools spoke on a panel that evening as well, receiving their own share of applause. Parents, community groups, schools and nonprofits all helped promote the event, contributing to a turnout so unexpectedly large that many were moved by the sheer magnitude of the crowd.

A uniquely powerful element of the evening was noted by Dr. Levine. While she has spoken to 63 groups since her book rocked the nation last July, only the Napa program and her talk in St. Helena in November involved communities “coming together” and offered “after-care” plans. She commented that as a result of her experiences in the Napa Valley, she expects to turn down invitations to speak in communities not willing to organize themselves these ways, for the greater good.

 The “after-care” plan to address the issues raised by Madeline Levine in Napa includes the following:

• COPE Family Center invites parents to contact them to continue this conversation regarding how to better support our youth: 252-1123.

• Parents, Spanish and English-speaking, and representatives of institutions and nonprofits, are invited to stay involved with this advocacy process as well. Contact Debbie Alter-Starr, 480-7436, alterstarr@sbcglobal.net, to get involved if you are not already on our e-mail list.

• Studio Arts of Napa Valley will offer free, parent-teen workshops March 17 using drama and art to enhance family relationships. Call 251-9200.

• Efforts are underway to integrate this project with youth leadership projects sponsored by the county office of education, the Volunteer Center and other groups.

Thanks are due to many, including: Napa County Office of Education and River School for booking the speaker; Napa County Office of Education, Community Foundation of the Napa Valley and Napa Valley Adult School for covering the speaker’s costs; Napa Valley Opera House for donating the use of their facility at cost and to the following organizations who covered these costs: Blue Oak School, Justin-Siena High School, St. Helena Cooperative Nursery School and Napa County Children and Weight Coalition.

The following organizations and individuals also helped to promote the event: Napa Valley Unified School District; Napa Valley Register; KVON and KVYN Radio; Yountville Sun; Teresa Foster, Spanish radio personality; COPE Family Center; Napa County Health and Human Services; Napa County Hispanic Network; Parent Advisory Council of the NVUSD; Napa Valley Unified Education Foundation; NVUSD English Learners Advisory Council; Migrant Education; Child Abuse Prevention Council of Napa County; ParentsCAN; Aldea Family Services; Boys and Girls Club of Napa Valley; Harvest Middle School; Cybermill; Studio Arts Napa Valley; Main Street Martial Arts and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance.

Thanks are due to the 10 students who spoke that night: Cory Lustig from Napa Valley College; David Cocar and Preston Washington from Vintage High School; Ricky Hurtado from Napa High; Cheryl Demesa, Wilma Wakin and Maya Weir from New Tech High; Dario Perez from Chamberlain High; Emma Sabo from Harvest Middle; and Maria Gonzalez from River School.

A special thanks again to the Opera House staff for their generosity and caring as hosts. Opera House staff commented afterwards how much they enjoyed the program and would like to see our well-mannered Napa Valley teens use their facility again. Thanks also to Barbara Nemko, Linda Inlay, Jan Sabo, Laurie Woodward, Char Ford-Gray, Marla Wiggins, Tami Nixon and Madri Bienenfeld — and myself — who all put considerable volunteer hours into this project.

We are truly blessed to have such a caring community, willing not only to show up, ante in and help out, but also take pains to look within, to consider — as Dr. Levine says — how to be more fully emotionally present with and unconditionally loving towards our young people. Thank you, Napa.

Debbie Alter-Starr, LCSW, was the project coordinator. She lives in Yountville.)