The Hey, I'm Here Resilience Squad will be presenting at the Cultivating Resilience Summit 2.0 in Dayton, Ohio in July!
Presentation Title: Hey, I’m Here Ohio: A youth-led conversation on resilience in a multi-media driven society
Description: Mental health in children, teenagers, and young adults is a growing concern in the United States. While this time could be about play and friendships, too often the stage of adolescence is a difficult one for Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 in 3 high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009. In 2019, approximately 1 in 6 youth reported making a suicide plan in the past year, a 44% increase since 2009 (CDC website, Oct. 2021). Since that data point was reported, we have seen the effects of a global pandemic and racial injustices that have led to an even greater mental health crisis today. It’s important for youth to know there are resources and opportunities to connect with others going through similar struggles and that they are not alone.
The Hey, I’m Here Ohio campaign was formed in 2019, in response to the crisis of mental health. Since then, it has achieved over 3 million impressions across Ohio and beyond. The campaign is led by the Resilience Squad, a 20 member team of youth ages 14-27 who meet monthly at our Squad Sessions to practice resilience skills and discuss coping strategies. The Squad is then paid to create social media content that offers insights to the audience related to their resilience journey and what they are learning. In 2022, the youth updated the campaign’s purpose statement: “A thought-provoking campaign that shares real stories and connects Ohio youth to a community that helps plant a seed on their journey of mental health and recovery." Content created by the youth is focused on providing tips and tricks for how to raise one’s mind/body awareness and promote emotional intelligence and self compassion.
During this presentation, participants will learn about the participatory model of social media content creation and storytelling that drives the Hey, I’m Here campaign. Participants will understand how to engage youth at every level of marketing and social media campaigning, while offering a container of mental health and resilience building. Participants will be invited to engage in resilience-based practices, self-reflection, and a supportive space for discussion. Finally, attendees will have the opportunity to hear stories of youth leading the campaign, reflecting on how this work aided their resilience journey.
Participants are encouraged to post their reflections on the session along with resilience-based content and tag @heyimhereohio.