Oftentimes, when a tragedy occurs, the people affected are so caught in despair they can’t seem to make anything good of their situation. Remaining positive and keeping a sound mind feels impossible, still, something must be done. Tyler Wessel, a class of 2020 grad, who passed away in August of 2021, leaving the community in despondence. Tyler is loved deeply by his family, friends, and others, and because of this, Tyler’s parents, Cindy and Ralf Wessel, would not allow themselves to stay caught in despair. After his death, his family worked with Coach Aaron Mueller to raise awareness for mental health and funds to support future student athletes who embody the same characteristics and Tyler. This is how Talk 4 Tyler emerged. Coach Mueller coached Tyler during his high school basketball career and it was through this that he got to experience Tyler’s characteristics first hand.
“Tyler was a good player, a really good shooter, a good person and a good teammate so he was the type of kid that you really enjoy coaching. He was unselfish, his teammates all liked him and he was a really important part of our program for a couple years,” Coach Mueller described.
Although tragic, Tyler’s passing brought about a kind of family that is fundamental to the true meaning of what a community is.
“So we usually start the planning right at the beginning of the school year. It takes a lot of time and effort and a lot of different people helping out. People that I would really like to thank for all their hard work are Brian Gilfoyle, Julie Weindel, Dr. McCarthy for his support, and then people outside of the building that were really helpful include Dana King and Tyler’s parents Cindy and Ralf. But there’s a lot of people working together to make it all come together,” Mueller said.
Because of the effort of these individuals, the effects of Talk 4 Tyler are felt in our community and beyond.
“So we raised $5,000 this year and $3,000 is going to the CHADS Coalition and $2,000 is going to the Tyler Wessel Memorial Scholarship. It’s given to a graduating senior student athlete who is chosen because they represent Tyler’s qualities of kindness and inclusiveness character. And so each year there’s an application process and a couple of Parkway Central graduates benefit from it,” Mueller said.
The CHADS (Communities Healing Adolescent Depression and Suicide) Coalition is an organzation that focuses on the expansion of awareness and prevention of depression and suicide. Not only is Talk 4 Tyler helpful with creating an opportunity for students to feel comfortable enough to talk about their mental health, but it also allows administrators to be more aware of their mental health and the emotional aspect of what all students go through. Counselor Paul Hussmann elaborates on his thoughts surrounding students and athletes advocating for themselves when it comes to their mental health.
“I think overall I’ve been doing this for ten years and I think it’s been great to see the stigma that students have around mental health has lessened a little bit. Kids are willing to come talk about themselves, about friends that are struggling. I do think that also coincides with the fact that the mental health struggles of kids is increasing as well, so kids are still coming here more often but I think we as counselors are seeing that the are greater and even more intense than they have been in the past. I do think that [for] boys there is more of a stigma around males getting help but I do think that is lessening as well which is encouraging,” Hussmann said.
Of course the teachers and administrators play a huge role in the way students feel about opening up about the things they experience mentally and emotionally, but it also is important for students themselves to contribute in creating a welcoming environment as well. Senior Kaitlyn King is a girls varsity basketball player who is more vocal regarding Talk 4 Tyler because her older brother Hunter King was friends with Tyler, therefore, she got to see his character primarily. As a captain of her team, the influence Kaitlyn has on her teammates helps to bring awareness to the importance of mental health.
“I think being a senior and a captain it’s really important for me to lead my teammates in a way that I see them as people and friends before I see them as players just so that I can always be aware of what’s going on in their lives and remembering that on the court and off the court to be able to support them through anything they’re struggling with,” Kaitlyn said.
Talk 4 Tyler has an annual basketball game dedicated to mental health awareness in which students buy their Talk 4 Tyler themed shirts and bracelets as well as listening to Coach Mueller and Tyler’s parents give their messages to the student body.
“I think that the night is definitely a big part of that. Just hearing his moms testimony during the game is very moving. I think just raising awareness for CHADS and different organizations that support mental health and teenagers with depression and anxiety and suicidal ideations, I think just continuing to do things that are bringing awareness to not only the issues because they’re having them but the organizations that can help, and again that there’s four comprehensive counselors in this building that they can talk to,” Hussmann said.
Although the turn out for Talk 4 Tyler is very good thus far, it’s important to continue his legacy in a way that future students will be enlightened of the significance his story has on the school community.
