Community Series: Where Mentoring and Youth Mental Health Meet

Published January 24, 2022

Now more than ever, we're all recognizing the important role strong relationships play in our lives. Connection is critical to our well-being and young people are no exception! The Mentoring Partnership and Jewish Healthcare Foundation are teaming up to explore the role strong relationships between adults and young people and between young people and their peers play in youth mental health in a 4-part community discussion series: Where Mentoring and Youth Mental Health Meet.

In this free virtual series, you'll hear from experts on the impact mentoring relationships have on the social-emotional health and well-being of young people. You'll also hear from organizations doing important work to advance strong relationships for kids in our community and beyond. See below for additional details on each session and a link to register.

Registration for each session is required and space is limited!

Session 1: The Connection Between Mentoring and Mental Health
As we all navigate the impact of current events, presenters Dr. Alison Culyba and Sarah London from the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh shared support strategies for mentors, caring adults and youth-serving professionals. Check out the below recap and playback to add some new tips and resources to your youth support toolbox!

CLICK HERE FOR THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL RECORDED SESSION

Session 2: Friday, March 11th, 9-11 a.m.
Social Media and Current Events
Social media can be a double-edged sword, especially for young people. Candice Biernesser, PhD, LCSW, postdoctoral scholar at the University of Pittsburgh, provided information on how to wield it wisely and how to support positive engagement strategies. Center of Life and Repair the World also shared more about their approaches to incorporating mental health and wellness into community-based teen engagement programs.

CLICK HERE FOR THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS

CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL RECORDED SESSION

Session 3: Wednesday, April 6th, 3:30-5 p.m.
Youth Voice
Youth are the experts on their own experiences and have fantastic ideas for improving teen mental health supports! Join us for an exciting youth voice panel discussion with teens from across southwestern Pennsylvania, who will share their stories and insights on best practices for youth outreach and peer supports. We’ll also hear about peer mentorship strategies and approaches from Erin Barr, clinical coordinator from UpStreet and The Mentoring Partnership team.

CLICK HERE FOR THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECORDED SESSION

Bonus Session: Friday, April 29th, 9-11 a.m.
Creating a Mental Health Safety Plan
In this bonus session, we're focusing on tips for boosting youth mental health and well-being. Dashawna Fussell-Ware, Robin Sheffey and Jasmin Perrier of Steel Smiling (an Organization in Residence at Neighborhood Allies) will join us to share more about mindfulness practices, enhancing peer support, active deep listening and ways young people can identify supportive adults within their networks.

We'll put this info into practice with a guided exercise around creating a mental well-being safety plan. Participants will walk away with their own safety plan, as well as a blank template that can be used to facilitate conversations with young people around the importance of creating their own safety plan.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE MENTAL HEALTH SAFETY PLAN TEMPLATE

CLICK HERE FOR THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RECORDED SESSION

Session 4: Friday, May 13th, 9-11 a.m.
Physical and Mental Health
In the final session of our series, we're addressing the impact mental health challenges have on student-athletes. AD99 Solutions will be joining us to lead a conversation about how student-athletes are impacted both physically and mentally by everyday social pressures and exposure to trauma. We'll also discuss the role mentors have as a vital part of student-athletes' ecosystem.