Roxy Concert Benefits Teen Suicide Prevention Hotline

Teenagers dip in and out of the Roxy Theatre’s dance floor, smiling and holding each other by the hand.

Next to the entryway, a poster offers up, “Need help? Let’s talk”—the message of Teen Line, the Los Angeles teen-to-teen suicide prevention hotline.

Doubling as a benefit and a memorial, Teen Line hosted its second annual “Summer Lovin’” concert at the  on Sunday night to spread the word about its services and honor the memory of a young man who took his own life in January. It was organized entirely by teenage volunteers. 

“We want to have fun, but we want kids to know we’re there for them under that fun,” said Jonathan Friedman, a senior at Buckley High School in Sherman Oaks and Teen Line volunteer. 

Teen Line, which is affiliated with Cedars-Sinai hospital, is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. every night, and receives about 10,000 calls a year, said development director Else Duff. The hotline receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations.

Calls include teens struggling with suicidal thoughts, relationships, drug problems and child abuse. Teen volunteers undergo 70 hours of training and at least 15 simulated conversations to prepare. 

The hotline is also in the process of launching a texting service.

“You don’t really realize how important it is until you’re on the line and you get calls from kids who really do need to talk,” said Friedman, who began volunteering as a freshman in high school.

Sunday’s event, featuring performances from artists Iyaz and Mann, and DJs Laurence Graff, A Rog and Cuckoo and Kickmix, also served as an outreach effort. High school-aged kids filled the theater to dance and talk in groups, passing tables with information about Teen Line on the way in. 

Volunteers came up with the idea for a concert benefit last year. The board of directors was hesitant at first, but gave its blessing, said Bella McGowan, a longtime board member.

Last year's event was markedly successful, grossing about $45,000, McGowan said. The funds have supported outreach and education efforts in the Los Angeles community. 

“[The line] is someone to talk to for them—teens helping teens,” McGowan said. “And supported by adults behind them.”

This year's concert was dedicated to the memory of 14-year-old Matthew Mezza, whose name appeared in the Roxy's illuminated marquee.

In January, the Santa Monica High School student abruptly left baseball practice, crossed the street to the Sheraton-Delfina hotel and leapt to his death, according to witness accounts.

Mezza's death shocked people who knew him, and left his loved ones grappling for answers. He was well liked and friendly, the kid who went to sit with fellow students who were alone at lunchtime, his mom, Ellie Schneir, told Patch.

"He was a great kid, a lot of fun to hang out with," Schneir said, tears rushing to her eyes. "It was such a shock."

If Mezza and his friends were out to coffee and he had the money, he paid for everyone. He also was extremely bright, full of facts and a voracious reader, Scheir said. He did very well in school. 

“He was really positive—he really loved life,” said 15-year-old Paria Sheshpari, who was in Mezza's year in school. The death also shocked and mystified her.

She and a group of her friends heard about the concert through Facebook and wanted to come celebrate Mezza's life, she said.  

In the past six months, the community has poured out its support to Mezza’s family. One woman Schneir barely knew started coming by the house with pink Playtex gloves to clean the toilets.

People immediately wanted to make donations in Mezza’s name. Schneir’s sister, who works in adolescent medicine, suggested Teen Line.

More than $10,000 has been donated in Mezza’s memory in total, Schneir said.

When she was contacted about dedicating the Teen Line concert to her son, Schneir said the decision was a difficult one. Seeing her child’s name is still extremely painful, Schneir said.

But she wanted to support the cause. 

“I figure it’s worth it if it can save somebody,” Schneir said, wiping her eyes with her hands, her wrist bearing a red bracelet reading "Remembering Matthew" and the Teen Line website.

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