Work2BeWell Virtual Teen Mental Health Summit

The Work2BeWell (W2BW) Virtual Teen Mental Health Summit was a student-led event that showcased student voices, offered breakout presentations and other resources that focused on mental health themes. Students, educators, and mental health advocates from across the country attended this virtual event.

PHS partnered with Work2BeWell on designing and creating two curriculum modules and had the opportunity to showcase this at the summit. One of the curriculum modules that was created focused on Structural Racism and Intergenerational Trauma and provided the opportunity for students to explore their own racial identity. The other curriculum module focused on critical conversations. It is a module we are calling "Heart to Heart Conversations" because it focuses on guiding students to effectively lead and participate in those difficult conversations with parents and guardians, peers, and other adults.

The W2BW Virtual Teen Mental Health Summit provided essential awareness and resources on mental health, and was a great experience for our PHS students. Luke Simon '22, Isabel Petty '21, and Dominic Brown '22 (pictured above from left to right) represented Providence High School and shared their experiences below.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT ATTENDING THE SUMMIT?

Luke Simon '22: I was very happy from the start to be attending this summit. I had already been introduced to the different kinds of Work2BeWell curriculum by Providence, so I was super honored and excited to be a part of this event! When I got on the Zoom, I was shocked to see that there were so many different students from places such as Oregon, Texas, and New York. Everybody on the Zoom was so nice and easygoing!

Isabel Petty '21: I was really excited to attend the summit because I’m passionate about fighting the stigma surrounding mental health.

Dominic Brown '22: I am so honored to have had the opportunity to attend an event that had open and honest vital discussions about teen mental health. It was awe inspiring to be in a “room” with so many bright minds intent on changing the future. You could feel the overflowing empathy exhibited by each and every person in the meeting.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THE EVENT?

Luke Simon '22: One of my biggest takeaways from this event was the different kind of activities that were talked about that we could use in school. I was a part of a breakout group that discussed activation. This group talked about how to be active in our Providence community in addressing mental health in young teens.

Isabel Petty '21: My biggest takeaway was how many other people felt the way I do about mental health awareness. There were almost 200 people from all over the country in the Zoom meeting and it gave me a lot of hope.

Dominic Brown '22: My biggest takeaway from the event was to truly address the stigma that surrounds mental health, we must employ strategic multi-faceted approaches intent on tackling each aspect of the stigma. Systematic problems require systematic solutions.

HOW CAN PHS HELP ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WITH STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES?

Luke Simon '22: Building on what I said in question two, the activation breakout group gave me ideas of what Providence could do and continue to do to advocate for mental health awareness with students and their families. It is no secret that these times have been challenging to say the least. However, I think it is important that we stand together and try and find the blessings within the curse. An example of one activity that was talked about is the voices activity. The voices activity was all about people sharing their stories and struggles either anonymously or not. This is important because it gives students and faculty a deeper understanding of one another. I also shared some of these activities with my SLO (student-led organization) groups. I think Providence's partnership with Work2BeWell is such a great thing, especially during these times of uncertainty. Isabel Petty '21: I think the most important thing we can do right now is be patient with ourselves and with those around us. This time is different than anything we’ve experienced before and it’s more important than ever to prioritize mental wellness. Every student and family is in a different place right now, be it emotionally, mentally, or physically and PHS's patience is going to be crucial to a successful rest of the school year.

Dominic Brown '22: Our school has the opportunity to truly make substantial change and advocate for mental health awareness. Advocacy can be watered down to three basic components: activism, education, and communication. If we as a community can work to utilize these three components, we can productively advocate for mental health awareness and acceptance. This means we will have to have difficult conversations which are the cornerstone of raising awareness. We must also prioritize kindness within our community and employ empathy which is truly the foundational element of real kindness.

WHAT ROLE DO YOU WANT TO PLAY IN ADVOCATING MENTAL HEALTH WITH YOUR PEERS?

Luke Simon '22: I would like to make people feel safe and comfortable sharing their feelings. People can have a hard time talking about their struggles, so it is important that everybody is respectful and courteous. I also would like to be there for people who need somebody to talk to. I consider myself a good listener and I think a lot of people just need a friend or peer to listen to them. I also have always loved giving people compliments and making people smile, so I think that could contribute to making people feel good about themselves and inspire others to do the same.

Isabel Petty '21: I want to start conversations with my peers about coping mechanisms that we can utilize during this time. Quarantine and the isolation that comes from it is hard, but we can still reach out to and connect with our friends through FaceTime or social media. It’s important that we use every resource we have to maintain our mental wellness during this time.

Dominic Brown '22: I want to be a student leader among my peers. I strive to speak up for our needs and lift up the voices of the silenced. We must begin leading, organizing, fighting, educating, and communicating now. There is no better time to truly reflect on our ability to improve our mental health and the mental health of every individual in our community. I mean this with my entire being, the time for change is now!