An Erie father is opening up about the loss of his daughter, hoping her story encourages other families to recognize the often\u2011hidden signs of youth mental health struggles.<\/p>\n
Michael Kerchansky says his 15-year-old daughter, Ziva, was vibrant, creative, and full of personality \u2014 a teenager who expressed herself boldly through art, fashion, and music. But after the isolation of the COVID\u201119 pandemic, he says he watched her change in ways he still struggles to understand.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe loved to express herself\u2026 don\u2019t care what people think, express yourself and do what you\u2019re going to do,\u201d Kerchansky said. \u201cThat\u2019s how she lived.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Kerchansky, the outgoing, social teen became withdrawn almost overnight. Anxiety, depression, and the pressures of returning to normal life after months of isolation began to weigh heavily on her. Ziva started therapy and medication, but Kerchansky says much of her pain remained hidden.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cShe wanted to be a therapist. She said she wanted to help people to with the same problems she had. And then after that, going through a lot of her stuff. I knew she had problems\u2026 but I didn\u2019t realize how sick she really was,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ziva died by suicide last fall.<\/p>\n
Now, Kerchansky is sharing her story publicly \u2014 not only to honor her life, but to urge parents to slow down, pay attention, and have difficult conversations with their children.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes people are reaching out, but we\u2019re not seeing what they\u2019re throwing at us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He says grief shows up in the smallest moments: an empty chair, a quiet room, the absence of a voice that once filled the house with music.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a void in your life, and you know it\u2019s never going to be filled again,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Even through that pain, Kerchansky says he hopes Ziva\u2019s story helps other families recognize early signs of struggle and take action.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you see somebody struggling, even minorly \u2014 ask questions. Do something,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Kerchansky says continuing to talk about Ziva is one way he hopes to raise awareness around youth mental health and suicide prevention.<\/p>\n