What if we're going about it all wrong?

What if we’re going about it all wrong?

[VIDEO] With the traditional systems that support teen and young adult mental well-being in danger of breaking down, maybe it’s the youth themselves who hold the keys to creating a better future.

In the midst of an invisible crisis in youth mental health, a disturbing question arises: What if we’re going about it all wrong? What if what suffering young people really need is someone they trust to talk to?

That’s the idea behind putting youth at the center of the conversation on mental health. With the traditional systems that support teen and young adult mental well-being in danger of breaking down – maybe it’s the youth themselves who hold the keys to creating a better, brighter future.

In the following video, Soapbox Health Justice in Action project editor and writer David Holthaus explains more about the youth mental health challenge along with strategies that the Hope Empowered Youth (HEY!) initiative has been developing over the last two years.

People who feel their voice matters are healthier and empowered. As divisions nationally appear to become deeper, this series, part of the larger Hea lth Justice in Action project, examines efforts to make voices heard and improve community connections.

This series is made possible with support from Interact for Health. To learn more about Interact for Health’s commitment to working with communities to advance health justice, please visit here.