Youth Advisory Board Presentations
Youth Advisory Board members make presentations at national and statewide conferences as well as at school staff trainings. Speaking frankly about their experiences with mental health needs, they give audiences insight into the day-to-day struggles of having mental health issues, ways they have managed them, and how teachers, providers, parents, and peers can provide appropriate support.
For more information on having the Youth Advisory Board speak to your group, please contact Renelle Nelson, Youth Advisory Board facilitator, at 952-838-1360.
On August 9th, 2011, the Youth Board did a presentation at the MANN Symposium About Children’s Mental Health and Learning Disabilities at the Minneapolis Convention Center to over 1,100 persons. Through individual story telling, youth board members used their talents to enlighten the audience on what it means to be a teenager with mental illness, and give recommendations for support. An original rap song, a cello concert, an originally written poetry reading, an interpretive dance and a documentary on teenage depression were the highlights of their presentation called “The Voice: Teen Mental Health Edition”.
On May 3rd, 2011,four members of the Youth Advisory Board on Mental Health spent National Children's Mental Health Awareness day at the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health Annual Conference in Duluth. The group did a presentation called "Mythbusters: Uncovering the truth about youth with mental health needs" which highlighted their personal stories and encouraged, challenged and redefined how to live and work with teens with mental illness. The presentation's highlight was a Fact or Fiction quiz about mental health, and a question and answer time. After the presentation, the group went to the Great Lakes Aquarium for some unique bonding time with each other and Minnesota's native waterlife. The presentation was well received, and a good time was had by all!
