The 2022-2023 Mental Health America Young Mental Health Leaders Council (YMHLC) represents younger leaders from throughout the U.S. who’ve created packages and initiatives that fill gaps in conventional psychological well being companies of their communities. This 12 months’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 wonderful people utilizing their lived expertise and youth perspective to make massive variations within the lives of these round them.
Name: Jose Caballero
Pronouns: he/him
Location: Miami, Florida (born and raised in Nicaragua)
Leadership and different positions: Founder of In Touch and founder and editor in chief of Get In Touch Blog
Social media: @joseeezc
Photo submitted by Mariama Bah
Why did you wish to be part of the YMHLC?
Joining the YMHLC was a possibility for me to not solely be part of a supportive neighborhood of younger people who’re devoted to psychological well being advocacy, but in addition to develop as an advocate myself whereas additionally gaining new views on psychological well being points and sharing my distinctive story, passions, and concepts.
Tell us about your work and pursuits.
My pursuits are centered round selling psychological well-being in faculties and advancing our understanding of psychological well being struggles by means of analysis. I based the primary psychological well being consciousness nonprofit at my faculty, volunteer on the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Community Walks, write for the Get In Touch Blog, and have carried out unbiased analysis on the connection between physique satisfaction and psychological well being.
What is the most important lesson you have got realized from different YMHLC members?
The three key takeaways from my expertise with fellow members are innovation, resilience, and dedication. Through interacting with my friends, I’ve realized the significance of incorporating lived experiences into intersectional psychological well being advocacy. This invaluable lesson has not solely formed my very own advocacy work however has additionally reinvigorated my motivation. I really feel honored to be a part of such a dynamic and galvanizing neighborhood.
What are your psychological well being advocacy targets?
From working with policymakers to combine psychological well being training into faculty curricula to conducting analysis on the experiences of marginalized communities with reference to psychological well being, my objective is to advertise a extra inclusive and equitable strategy to psychological well being help and sources in our communities whereas bringing the wealthy tapestry of psychological well being experiences and stressors that exist in our society to academia.
Photo submitted by Photo submitted by Mariama Bah
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