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 providers 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 subsequent 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: Jill King
Pronouns: she/her
Location: Statesboro, Georgia
School: Georgia Southern University
Leadership and different positions: Cofounder and president of the Students with Disabilities Advocacy Group at GSU
Social media: @jill_gking on Twitter and Instagram
Photo submitted by Jill King
Why did you need to be part of the YMHLC?
I wished to hitch MHA’s YMHLC in order that I might meet and work alongside different younger advocates. This latest wave of Gen Z advocates is so highly effective, and I noticed YMHLC as a possibility to attach and advocate as a united entrance.
Tell us about your work and pursuits.
I do numerous incapacity advocacy, focusing generally on blindness and power ache. I do that by way of writing and with the Students with Disabilities Advocacy Group, a bunch I co-founded that’s run by and for the disabled. I work to debate and spotlight voting entry for the disabled group alongside coverage advocacy on a state degree. I additionally take pleasure in opening conversations round psychological well being, incapacity, and trauma.
What is the largest lesson you will have discovered from different YMHLC members?
The greatest lesson I’ve discovered from my fellow YMHLC members has been about prioritizing my very own psychological well being and well-being as an advocate and chief. We have been capable of foster and encourage kindness and consideration for each other as advocates.
What are your psychological well being advocacy objectives?
My psychological well being advocacy objectives are to turn into a therapist and give attention to the disabled group and supply culturally responsive care. I additionally make objectives to open additional conversations about incapacity and psychological well being to then make coverage change.
Photo submitted by Jill King
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