Pieces of Me - Pieces of US

We are so excited that you are joining with Youth MOVE CO and participating in our 3rd annual MOVE it Forward Campaign for Mental Health Acceptance Month. We are joining with Youth MOVE Chapters around the country to participate on a singular issue at the same time. As advocates with lived experiences accessing services in the systems such as mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare, or other youth-serving spaces we can help create change. We see this campaign as an opportunity to push forward important policy issues and youth-driven recommendations that are important right now!

This year’s theme is Pieces of Me. Pieces of Us

This year our focus is on who we are and how our identity and personal characteristics are important factors in taking care of our mental health. These components of our humanity are important to consider when we engage in services, programs, and other parts of our community. This is so important because parts of our identity can be why we do not receive proper care. Disparities for disenfranchised and minority groups are commonplace for many, which requires systems transformation to increase access for people who have traditionally been limited or denied the opportunity for equitable care. For example, we know that:

• In 2018, 58.2 percent of Black and African American young adults 18-25 and 50.1 percent of adults 26-49 with serious mental illness did NOT receive treatment. (Mental Health America)

• We also know that LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than non-LGBTQ+ identifying teens. (Mental Health America)

We hope by sharing stories of who we are, how our identities affect our mental health / mental health care, and share resources, we can become better advocates for our own self-care and highlight what we need in order to truly be ourselves!