236.  Mental Health Advocacy:  The Youth Power Project

Mental Health Advocacy:  The Youth Power Project

Are today’s youth the missing voice in mental health advocacy?

In this episode of Pediatric Meltdown, host Dr. Lia Gaggino invites passionate mental health advocate Ria Babaria to talk about the unique struggles and strengths of today’s youth. In  her journey from high school advocate to college policy specialist,

Ria emphasizes the need for youth representation in mental health decisions. She discusses the Youth Power Project’s initiatives, access to mental health resources, and the importance of bridging societal and systemic gaps. From personal challenges to state-wide advocacy, Ria highlights the transformative power of youth voices in policy-making. Join us as we explore the potential changes when youth are given a platform to be heard. 

The future of mental health is their future— but are we ready to listen?

[00:05 -15:21] The Birth of Youth Advocacy

• The significance of amplifying youth voices in education and policy through advocacy organizations
• Importance of bridging education gaps and providing resources for low-income and vulnerable youth
• Empowering youth to assert confidence and influence in advocacy spaces
• The transformative impact of including diverse backgrounds in policy discussions

[15:12 -22:22] Mental Health Advocacy and Cultural Challenges

• Addressing mental health struggles within POC households and breaking cultural taboos
• The importance of emotion integration for personal growth and social interactions
• Building confidence to engage in mental health advocacy at a young age
• Shaping policy through lived experiences and peer discussions

[22:23 -38:50] Expanding the Youth Power Project Reach

• The national evolution from initial state-focused youth groups to broader advocacy at YPP
• Strategizing for impactful health reform through youth collaboration and legislative work
• Navigating peer-to-peer networks to bolster the youth advocacy movement
• Tailoring mental health and educational policies around authentic youth voices

[38:51-48:50] Enhancing Access and System Reforms

• Addressing consistency and discrepancies in mental health resource access nationwide
• Innovative strategies to demystify access and eliminate stigma around mental health support
• Strengthening first aid mental health training to improve communication and support
• Developing legislative frameworks to integrate youth insights within mental health policy

[48:51-32:50] Dr. Lia’s TakeAways

Connect with Ria                                                                                            [email protected]

Resources Mentioned:

• PHQ-9 Screening Tool for Depression:
• PHQ-9 Questionnaire
• Youth Power Project Website:
• Youth Power Project
• Mental Health First Aid Training:
• Mental Health First Aid

Youth Power Project http://www.youthpowerproject.org

SR769 https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/sres769/BILLS-118sres769ats.pdf

HR434 https://legiscan.com/US/bill/HR434/2023

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Tweetable Quotes:

But you’re telling us youth we don’t have access to these resources on college campuses, on high school campuses just because of the politicians who are in place, who believe that mental health is not a real issue. I think that is very harmful to the youth… Ria Babaria on the lack of mental health resources

There’s just so much interest going into this new generation with mental health and behavioral health. But a really big issue is that a lot of these youth are not given the opportunity to understand what their career path is and what their future life would be like if they ended up pursuing this….Ria Babaria on the lack of opportunity

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There’s just so much interest going into this new generation with mental health and behavioral health. But a really big issue is that a lot of these youth are not given the opportunity to understand what their career path is and what their future life would be like if they ended up pursuing this.