Following the warm reprieve of winter, members of the Pelham Together Youth Council bore the damp chill of a March morning and traveled to Albany for Mental Health Matters Day. This annual event, hosted by Mental Health Association of New York State (MHANYS) and held at the New York State Capitol, gathers mental health professionals and advocates to lobby for mental health funding and awareness. The day typically consists of policy briefings, a rally with select speakers, and legislative visits.
On the MHANYS docket for this year were policies regarding mental health workforce funding, education and mental health first aid training, and suicide prevention. Youth Council Members Maddie Albus, Brayden Clark, Natalie Glover, Rachel Miller, and Gio Polenzani chose to advocate in three specific ways: explicit support for Governor Hochul’s proposed $17.5 million investment in mental health first aid training for tenth graders statewide, and for the two bills sponsored by Senator Nathalia Fernandez and Assemblymember Anna Kelles to extend that same training for school teachers and staff.
Mental health first aid (MHFA) training is an evidence- and skills-based training to standardize care for someone experiencing struggles with mental health or substance use; it teaches teens and adults how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of emotional distress. Governor Hochul’s budget supports the use of $17.5 million for MHFA training of 10th graders in NYS schools, empowering them to be knowledgeable connectors—not counselors—between their peers and professional help. Building on that effort, bills sponsored by Senator Fernandez and Assemblymember Kelles propose that this same training be offered to teachers and staff in NYS schools, providing a common language and understanding of mental health as part of a school culture.
During private meetings with both Senator Fernandez and Assemblymember Amy Paulin, our Youth Council referenced personal anecdotes, statistics, and legislative research to express why and how Pelham students would benefit from the passage of these bills. They were even invited onto the Assembly floor where they witnessed a bill debate and vote. They left with specific suggestions for further advocacy and a confidence that their thoughts and ideas were taken seriously.
The Youth Council members came back invigorated and keen to integrate their learnings into our community. We are very proud of our young leaders and thrilled to see what impact they will impart on Pelham!
About Pelham Together
Pelham Together is a not-for-profit organization located in Pelham, NY. Our mission is to support the physical, social, and mental wellbeing of all youth by building their resilience and sense of belonging in the community. www.pelhamtogether.org
Editor’s note: This press release was provided by Pelham Together. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.
