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The 2022-2023 Mental Health America Young Mental Health Leaders Council (YMHLC) represents younger leaders from throughout the U.S. who’ve created applications and initiatives that fill gaps in conventional psychological well being companies of their communities. This yr’s cohort is working to handle psychological well being throughout many areas together with training, housing, foster care, dependancy restoration, and state-level coverage.
Over the following a number of weeks, get to know the ten superb people utilizing their lived expertise and youth perspective to make large variations within the lives of these round them.
Name: Savannah Frye
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Location: Tysons, Virginia
Leadership and different positions: Northern Virginia Regional Coordinator for Peer Recovery Specialists and Family Support Partners
Photo submitted by Savannah Frye
Why did you wish to be a part of the YMHLC?
I used to be in search of and located an area the place all of us might be our genuine selves and discuss greater than surface-level topics. I additionally wished to affix the YMHLC to be taught from and be impressed by my fellow advocates. I’ve discovered about all of the superb initiatives my fellow members are spearheading and am rejuvenated by the fervour and compassion behind them.
Tell us about your work and pursuits.
I’m concerned about advocacy and training on the position of peer restoration specialists and household assist companions in our behavioral well being system. My different passions embody work on barrier crimes, crime reform and associated legislative advocacy, growing information and funding for hurt discount strategies, funding and advocating for youth assist faculty applications to fight rising youth psychological well being and substance use challenges, and native governments and group service boards using friends.
What is the most important lesson you’ve discovered from different YMHLC members?
Each member performs completely different roles in every of our lives, and, oftentimes, we base our value off the progress that we’re making in our advocacy {and professional} efforts. This council has been a chance for me to acknowledge that whereas we’re all doing superb issues in our advocacy sphere, we’re all nonetheless individuals who have batteries that should be recharged. The significance of self-care can’t be understated in advocacy work.
What are your psychological well being advocacy targets?
My targets embody considerably lowering barrier crimes for peer assist employment, creating peer applications, and providing peer certification trainings in class and jail-based settings. In addition, I’m advocating for growing the Medicaid reimbursement price for peer companies. In Virginia, I’d wish to see the creation of a peer respite middle and a profession ladder for friends and household assist companions.
Photo submitted by Savannah Frye
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Funded, partly, by a donation from JCPenney.
