Reducing Youth Mental Health Stigma

Health Care Access

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

HYC was incorporated in 1971 by parents concerned with rising juvenile delinquency and drug and alcohol use. With a strength-based, trauma-informed, person-centered approach, HYC's mission is to help build individual, family, and community health, well-being, prosperity and equity. Our staff (95% BIPOC) and leadership (70% BIPOC) have a deep understanding of the mental health challenges faced by the predominantly Latinx and BIPOC youth and families in the Southeast LA communities we serve. The LA County Human Relations Commission, responding to the County Board of Supervisors, identified County schools where students were in need of inclusive spaces. The Commission's hate crime reports are available at https://hrc.lacounty.gov/stop-violence-2. HYC operates Dream Resource Centers at six LA County middle and high schools providing immigrant, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, English Language Learner, and other students at risk of racial and gender-based hate and bullying with safe and judgment-free spaces.

Youth and their families are often reluctant to access or receive mental health and/or substance use education and treatment due to the stigma associated with labels, fears and false beliefs, shame, fears of being seen at school accessing services, and lack of understanding by family or culture. Based on HYC's work with youth and families over the last three years, the pandemic and its aftereffects have only deepened youth hesitation and anxiety in accessing help for these serious concerns. During the pandemic, many youth lost access to support systems including friends, teachers, school personnel, faith leaders, and extended family due to restrictions and closures, with many youth only now beginning to regain confidence in social situations. Added to the mix is volatile tension between racial groups on school campuses, fueled by social media misinformation. HYC staff, bilingual English/Spanish, utilize evidence-based and culturally sensitive approaches to help Latinx and BIPOC youth overcome stigma, process fears, identify resources to make them feel safe, and normalize asking for help with mental, emotional, and substance use issues. These issues cause pain and trauma for young people and families and hold youth back from building a strong foundation for their futures. Without the support provided by HYC, the minimum 200 at-risk youth and their adult allies receiving services and training through this project have very few options to access these urgently needed resources.

This project is part of HYC's ongoing work to provide access to mental health counseling, substance use treatment, and school-based support for at-risk youth. In total, HYC serves 54 school campuses in 15 school districts through long-established relationships, including with the ABC Unified, Norwalk/La Mirada Unified, and Whittier Union High School Districts, among others. HYC's newest school-based initiative is the Dream Resource Centers (DRCs), on-campus safe spaces managed by HYC on 6 Los Angeles County middle and high school campuses at elevated risk for racial and gender-based conflict, bullying and hate. Requested funding of $75,000 will be applied toward costs of recruiting, hiring and training a dedicated DRC Resource Coordinator reducing mental health stigma among Latinx and BIPOC students through linkages to mental health services, practical coping skills workshops to increase student resilience and reduce anxiety and depression, and mental health stigma reduction training.

All services will be youth-centered and trauma-informed. The Resource Coordinator will plan student engagement events, activities, and workshops for the target population of Latinx and BIPOC students at risk of racial and gender-based bullying and hate. The Resource Coordinator will also plan and disseminate resource information and training materials regarding mental health stigma reduction to the 6 Dream Resource Center campuses for ongoing use by students, ally teachers and staff, and parents/caregivers. Project impact will be documented and measured using a variety of methods including case notes and training logs maintained by the Resource Coordinator and participant pre- and post-tests measuring increased perception of well-being and coping skills. Participants will also have the opportunity to complete a Client Satisfaction Survey. The Dream Resource Centers have resulted in increased student well-being to date, as shared by students in the video attached to this application.