This Saturday, students plan to nurture their mental health and the voices of their peers through a student-led Advocacy & Wellness Summit.

The summit, hosted by YouthWell’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness, will bring together 100 high school students from across the county for a day of workshops and learning opportunities, allowing them to raise their voices in vital matters. while prioritizing their mental well-being.

The event is organized by students like Santa Ynez Valley High School’s Gael Torres, who became interested in helping people struggling with addiction and mental health after suffering the loss of a classmate who overdosed.

And people like Wainzie, an international student at the Dunn School, who endures a lot of pressure and misunderstandings from her parents.

On Monday, these two students met with other YAB organizers to discuss the upcoming summit.

“There’s this idea of ​​’I had it harder’ from parents, and kids don’t want to be a burden,” said Ashley Kelly-Holden, a counselor at YouthWell. “What young people experience are real things. It’s like comparing apples to oranges. Students are witnessing very traumatic things, and adults are struggling to deal with that trauma and support them.”

At that, Wainzie nodded. “They downplay it.”

YouthWell, Kelly-Holden said, addresses this by educating parents and school administrators. But Saturday is all about the kids.

Wainzie will join like-minded youth to explore topics their parents may struggle with, such as the intersections between mental health and cultural identity, marginalized communities and human rights.

They will also host and participate in workshops on developing stronger communication skills, building healthy relationships, learning healthy coping strategies, and advocating for themselves and others. YouthWell wants the event to empower its young participants to be the next generation of change makers.

And by the looks of it, they’re off to a great start.

“These students are cut from a different cloth,” Kelly-Holden said, looking around the diverse group of young adults, each of whom plays an important role in bringing the event to life.

It was a tall order for these students who also have to juggle universities, extracurricular activities, families and jobs. But they find ways to follow their own advice.

“It’s important to stop and make sure you’re being good to yourself,” said Torres, who is hosting a workshop on the intersection of physical and mental health. “For my workshop, I met with specialists and nutritionists, which helped me pick up tips and tricks for my own well-being.”

Students will also engage in hands-on learning activities through an art activism and ‘speed-friending’ workshop, healthy relationships workshop – among others. Translation services will also be available for multilingual learners to make the event as inclusive as possible.

Learn more about YouthWell and its Youth Advisory Board Here.