Teen Mental Health Proclamations Recognized Across the State on Teen Mental Health Awareness Day
Type: News
Focus Area: Teen Mental Health
Youth advocates present a proclamation at the Allegheny County Commissioners meeting on May 21.
The PA Youth Advocacy Network recognized May 23rd as Teen Mental Health Awareness Day with a proclamation from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Youth advocates were also present at meetings across the Commonwealth as their authored proclamations were passed and recognized by commissioners in Allegheny, Cumberland, Delaware, Montgomery, and Washington counties. In Lancaster County, a teen-written line was incorporated into its mental health awareness month recognition. High school students of the PA Youth Advocacy Network and partner organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club of Southwestern PA, Touchstone Foundation Rise Above Summit, Children’s First, and the Washington County Teen Center leadership board, drafted the proclamations and elevated the issue in their respective counties.
“I am so honored to have authored the Cumberland County Teen Mental Health Awareness proclamation, along with co-authoring the Pennsylvania Statewide Proclamation, for the past two years. As a student, it’s truly inspiring to see our work create real impact, and my experiences at the PA Youth Advocacy Networking, working both at the statewide level and in my county, show me the power of policy change in uplifting underrepresented communities, and continues to push me to advocate for legislative change while amplifying the voices of young people."
The proclamations raised awareness of the percentage of youth in the county and across Pennsylvania who report feeling sad most days in the past 12 months and raised awareness about disparities in mental health treatment and prevalence.
Youth advocates elevated their platform on Teen Mental Health Awareness Day, calling for greater investments in prevention in community-based organizations & schools, mental health education, supports over punishment, excused mental health days, and for teens to be welcomed to the table to be heard in the policymaking process.
“Speaking in front of a crowd can be intimidating, especially when the approval of a proclamation is in balance, but the steps we are taking will lead us to a brighter and better future, where we can celebrate our mental health."
Since 2018, the PA Youth Advocacy Network, a program of JHF, has engaged youth and adults across Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania in advocating for change and promoting teen mental health through skills-building and advocacy opportunities.
This is the fourth year in which Teen Mental Health Awareness Day has been recognized with proclamations authored by PA Youth Advocacy Network youth advocates: Shukla, Palazzo-Riggins, Amani Parker, Ishani Bansal, Laila King, along with 20 other youth from partner organizations.
Teen Mental Health Proclamations Across PA
Youth advocates present a proclamation at the Allegheny County Commissioners meeting on May 21.
Amir Turner, a student at McKeesport High School, speaks while Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam looks on.
Niharika Shulka, middle, presents the teen mental health proclamation to Cumberland County Commissioners Jean Foschi (left) and Kelly Neiderer.
Signed Cumberland County teen mental health proclamation.
Youth advocate Sophia Palazzo-Riggins presents the Network's teen mental health proclamation to members of the Delaware
