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Improving Our Community by Promoting Youth Access to Mental Health Services (Poster 56)

Fri, April 14, 9:50 to 11:20am CDT (9:50 to 11:20am CDT), Hyatt Regency Chicago, Floor: East Tower - Exhibit Level, Riverside West Exhibition Hall

Abstract

We are a team of five students attending a Chicago Public alternative high school for 16-21 year-olds on the South Side, our school counselor, and professors from DePaul University. We are working to improve our school and community by bringing awareness to mental health needs, especially among young people. We began this study by surveying students at our school about their experiences with mental health and mental health resources. Our questions included: What in your life causes you the most stress? If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, or depressed, who do you talk to? If your school offered mental health resources, would you use them? If not, what’s holding you back? When was the last time someone asked you how you were, like really asked how you were honestly doing? We also interviewed some of our friends at school and are continuing to interview others including young people who are not currently in school, community mental health providers, and others knowledgeable about mental health issues in Chicago and Cook County. Our goal is to raise awareness, lessen stigma, and to improve access to mental and other health resources for young people—especially those who do not have access now. We want our school and community to know where to turn when they are struggling, and to know that they are not alone.

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