Mental Health Awareness
Too many young people have been suffering in silence and holding secrets for far too long. The truth about Mental Health is that it manifests in ways that can be obvious to others as behaviors change when young people self-medicate, become promiscuous, or exhibit physical changes. While others hide in their loneliness because, culturally you’re not supposed to tell people how you feel, because, in school, the counselor has 400 other students to meet with, or because if you tell who will care anyway?
According to the Youth Census, 75% of young people are going through life stressed, anxious, sad, and confused. Yet, the resources and services meant to support them are not fully funded, or the programs don’t meet the needs of the population and even worse, the government only steps in for young people, when it’s too late. Saving the future of our city and our nation requires those at the table to prioritize youth mental health and wellness. Acknowledge that the system is faulty and needs an upgrade. How do we accomplish this? Who do we ask? Experts, stakeholders, or young people? We empower young people to put their potential into play and speak their truths. Out of the mouths of youth, comes the truth. Listen, carefully…
Wake up, same thing, different day,
Trigger
Cope
Trigger
Cope
Trigger
Cope
You become mentally exhausted
You go hide,
Cry
sob
Because it hurts
You want it to go away
A dark cloud ruminating over you
You lie in a ball at the side of your bed sobbing
A foot on your soul
Your lights been stolen
No motivation
You become angry at everyone
cause they’re happy and your not,
you feel like an oddball
Always going through the motions
While others are happy
You want to change
Be different
A better person
For yourself and others
But the cloud sticks
Your thoughts take over
No one to challenge them
Sometimes you wish
You had no feelings
But you feel everything intensely
You don’t wanna cope,
speak,
see anyone,
Life seems like it’s standing still
You want to ball up in a ball and slowly wish you can dissolve, disappear
You convince yourself no one will miss you
They will be better without you
Because at that point you feel dead
You feel alone no one understands your thoughts
They see your anger outburst and attitude and they
Disappear leaving you isolated
Isolated, that’s what the youth are,
Isolated,
Forgotten
- Anonymous
Sue Najm is a rising senior at Fort Hamilton High School. She’s an active advocate for social justice regarding education and youth as well as foster care while working with multiple organizations and programs. She hopes to continue writing and speaking about civil rights and youth in the future to demand change within the system.
My name is Ebube Nwaeme. I am 17 years old. I currently attend the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) and I'm going into my second semester in the fall of 2020. -I found out about Mbsk in high school through the recommendation of an mentor from my after school program. I joined the council because I saw it as a platform to use my voice as a young person to effect change in my society. I also joined because I saw it as a great opportunity to participate and engaged in youth related activities. My main interest has always been to bring more awareness to the power and voice young people have in the society. I sincerely believe the days of “you are the leaders of tomorrow” are gone and the leadership should start coming to actualization NOW. I believe I’m in the right path through MBSK. -I don’t stress about my future. But I think about it from time to time. I want to do things that are based on my skills and my personality. I see myself doing to tv/radio work and also music.
Abasiono Etuk
Abasiono hails from Nigeria and moved to New York City in her primary years. During her assimilation to a new country, culture and new life, she quickly realized her uniqueness from her peers. This did not stop Abasiono from excelling academically and participating in sports at her local afterschool program. As a young adult, she held various retail jobs and experienced firsthand the inequities of being an immigrant and a woman in the workforce. This led her to realize how important it is to have self-awareness and self-love in a world that does not see past labels. After an injury on the job, she looked to healing mentally and physically. Now as a freelance Social Media Manager, a Proofreader and Editor, hairstylist, and wellness coach, Abasiono prioritizes sharing as much information as she can with her community about mental and spiritual wellness.
Dr. Michael M. Sinclair
Michael is a native New Yorker who recently relocated to “Charm City” Baltimore, Maryland. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University, and completed a Doctor of Social Work at Norfolk State University. Michael was awarded the Paige E. Cook Jr. Scholarship at Columbia University for outstanding contributions to the profession of Social Work. Michael brings over 20 years of experience to the field of Social Work and his colleagues describe him as having a passion for helping people.
Michael has done a considerable amount of research around Vicarious Trauma and Traumatology relative to the Child Welfare Systems. His research has been published and has gained him notoriety with nationally syndicated television programs including the Queen Latifah Show and Nightline. More importantly Michael’s research has led to some significant paradigm shifts in the way public child welfare work is done. More emphasis has been placed on supporting the caregivers and workers, which he hopes will in turn lead to a dramatic decrease in turnover rates among child welfare workers.
Coach D Williams
After surviving police brutality, the death of her parents, depression, chronic anxiety and three knee surgeries, Coach D used her love for basketball to restore her mind and body to a state of joy. Through her affiliation with The Athlete Project, Coach D learned to explore the power of mindfulness and connection as a hygiene system, focusing on mental wellness strategies that bring self-awareness to the forefront of Mental Health. Her goal is to normalize Mental Health utilizing the sport of basketball and beyond.
Dr. Anna Ortega-Williams
Anna is a professor and researcher focusing on historical trauma and systemic violence recovery among Black youth; post-traumatic growth and social action; peer-led mental health and collective wellbeing approaches among youth; including anti-oppressive and anti-racist social work practice and youth development.
Joshua Ware
Joshua Ware LMSW, is the Social Worker for Family Medicine, a therapist, a co-author, and a training specialist for Children of Promise, NYC. Joshua has spent the past 3 years in the Crown Heights community providing psychotherapy to older teens and adults who normally would not have access to therapy. His expertise and curricula focus are on dismantling the stigma of mental health care within the Black/Caribbean community in order to create healing spaces for those who are prevented from having access. Joshua specializes in individual trauma-based therapy and is well versed in many evidence-based practices, which allows him to tailor his approach for disenfranchised people. Joshua’s work has historically been rooted in level analysis through an anti-oppressive approach discourse by assessing how the macro and meso levels within systems impact the micro. Joshua has also participated in policy work and has assisted in the creation of college level curriculum taught within Sing Sing Correctional facility, for men who were not expected to be released from incarceration. He has also co-created the Mass Incarceration Conversation Series with Dr. Kirk A. James, which provided conversation addressing the impact of hyper incarceration of subjugated communities.
Karleny Ramos
Karleny, an afrolatina from the Bronx, is a 17-year-old rising senior from the High School for Teaching and the Professions. She is currently a member of Teens Take Charge, while also a YPAR Institute member for the year. Karleny identifies herself as a young activist and has been on a journey of advocating for good causes since March of 2020. She has been featured on CBS news advocating for the Summer Youth Employment Program, while also testifying in the Brown vs. Board of Education 66th anniversary zoom event, as well as organizing a rally for police free schools with Students Break the Silence. Additionally, Karleny hopes to spread awareness regarding mental health on this panel because she has gone through some hardships regarding her personal experiences.
Adaam Ali Benton
Adaamu is a young black artist imagining new creative ways to help his peers express their emotions. Throughout his life he has been active in the arts participating in multiple art shows in the tristate area—most recently debuting at La Bodega in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, using various mediums that express his thoughts and emotions. His work explores themes of mental health, oppression and black history. During his time working with the Safe Horizon Streetwork team, Adaamu did community outreach at their drop-in centers and noticed a lack of creative outlets for homeless youth, so he began implementing creative expression classes for clients, ages 14-24. Adaamu is now working towards creating an organization that provides young people a space where they can transform their pain into works of art.
Abasiono Etuk
Abasiono hails from Nigeria and moved to New York City in her primary years. During her assimilation to a new country, culture and new life, she quickly realized her uniqueness from her peers. This did not stop Abasiono from excelling academically and participating in sports at her local afterschool program. As a young adult, she held various retail jobs and experienced firsthand the inequities of being an immigrant and a woman in the workforce. This led her to realize how important it is to have self-awareness and self-love in a world that does not see past labels. After an injury on the job, she looked to healing mentally and physically. Now as a freelance Social Media Manager, a Proofreader and Editor, hairstylist, and wellness coach, Abasiono prioritizes sharing as much information as she can with her community about mental and spiritual wellness.
Cianny Irby
Cianny is a Vocalist, Pianist, and. She attends the legendary Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts as a vocal major. Her love for music started at birth when her parents played “old school” music to stop her from crying. Ever since then, Cianny has been singing! A self-taught pianist and song writer, she writes about what it means to be a teen growing up in New York City, the good and the bad. Cianny competed at the landmark Apollo Theater, where she won first place 3 times! She is constantly growing vocally and wants to use her voice to help young women like her get through today's trials and tribulations using intellect, and a Lil' bit of sass. The best is yet to come.
GLBT National Youth
1-800-246-7743
youth@GLBTNationalHelpCenter.org
The Trevor Project
1-866-488-7386
S.A.F.E. Alternatives
To help end cutting, self-abuse, self-harm.
Call 800-DONTCUT
800-366-8288
http://www.selfinjury.com/contact/
Suicide Hotline:
800-784-2433
Crisis Call Center:
800-273-8255
Text ANSWER to 839863
Crisis Text Line (U.S. only):
Text HELLO to 741741
Runaway or Homeless Youth Shelter and Support
Mental Health Support and NYC Well
Resources for Young Adults
https://www.samhsa.gov/young-adults/resources
Youth Town Hall Video
Did you get to experience the youth town hall? If so, complete the evaluation and help us vote on the next topic and let us know how we did.
