Youth Action Board: Mental Health Advocacy Projects

The Children’s Hospital Colorado Pediatric Mental Health Institute (PMHI) Youth Action Board (YAB) consists of up to 18 teens from across the Denver metro area, and occasionally beyond, who are interested in raising awareness about and de-stigmatizing mental health issues.

The YAB was created to help engage the community and stakeholders in improving mental health services. Specifically, the goals of YAB are to:

1. Advise Children’s Colorado’s PMHI faculty and staff on ways to better care for kids and teens with mental health issues
2. Raise the awareness of child and adolescent mental health issues in the communities the hospital serves by completing a project each year that will support social change
3. Develop the leadership and advocacy skills of each youth board member

Since its inception in 2013, the YAB has had more than 75 members representing more than 30 schools, in numerous school districts. If you're interested in getting involved as a board member or partner, please email info@pcmh.org.

What are the criteria for being on the Youth Action Board?

The Youth Action Board has only two requirements for applicants:

• Be of high school age
• Have a passion and interest in improving youth mental wellness

How do I apply to be on the Youth Action Board?

All high school students from Denver and the surrounding metro area are welcome to apply. At the start of the school year, we do extensive outreach through our mental health providers, community partners and schools to encourage teens to apply. The application process consists of a series of short essays that current and former YAB members review.

For more information about the application process, please call 720-777-6200.

Youth Action Board mental health projects

• 2019-20: COVID-19 & Mental Wellness
  • Guidance for building relationships as high schools launch the 2020-21 school year (.pdf)
  • Tips for parents and caregivers
  • Tips for primary care providers when talking with youth about mental health
  • In partnership with Partners for Children's Mental Health, YAB members created a suicide prevention video for educators.
  • Tips for teens (.pdf)
  • Also take a look at some 2019-20 YAB members by following the hashtag #ToolsForToughTimes on Instagram to see how they and other teens across the country manage their day-to-day stress.
• 2018-19: Inquiring Minds Want to Know: What Hinders & Supports Youth Mental Health
• 2017-18: Sonder: Youth Mental Health Stories of Struggle and Strength
  • Social emotional wellness toolkit: art-based activities for schools and communities to facilitate conversations about mental wellness
• 2016-17: Stigma Speaks: A series of four videos to help shed light on the reality of mental health stigma.
• 2015-16: Mental Health is All Our Stories
• 2014-15: The Listen Project
• 2013-14: Illuminate the Darkness (.pdf)