Did you know that 1 in 5 teens will face mental illness in their lifetime? Being open and candid about mental health is not only the path to seeking help for ourselves, but it encourages others to do the same. Imagine if checking in about our thoughts and feelings was as chill as passing a note in class?

We’re humbled to see Gen Z leading the way in shifting our collective mindset around this important issue. Because of the courage of young people to speak up about mental health, organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness are finding more creative solutions to mental illness, such as investing in early prevention.

We also want to elevate that different communities have unique perspectives on mental health, which many young people are bringing to the forefront of the conversation. Class, race, religious background, and other diverse factors can make our perspectives on mental health quite different. Take Miana Bryant, for example. She created The Mental Elephant organization, which provides mental health programming and resources to historically Black colleges and universities.

Resources that are accessible, equitable, and suited to each community’s needs are a must. That means having leaders, mentors, and therapists in the space who are suited to help people of diverse backgrounds, including people of color, trans youth, and more. In the wake of the Colorado shooting and Trans Day of Remembrance, we recognize how triggering and devastating these events can be. We stand with the many LGBTQ+ youth who are struggling with their mental health in the face of hatred and violence.

It’s not enough to simply start talking more about mental health. It’s also crucial that we walk the walk by advocating for resources in our own communities.

Stigma holds us back from recognizing that we’re all in this together. So let’s ditch it and embrace the realness, just in time for the holidays when setting boundaries and taking care of ourselves is uber important. Our Vibe Check Resource Guide is there to help you navigate holiday stressors, and it’s filled with tips to help you keep your mind in check during this time.

Let’s Do This!

DoSomething

Vibe Check is more than just vibes, it’s a movement. 

We’re confronted with some seriously uncertain times nowadays. That’s why sharing meaningful tips and resources around mental health can be such a game-changer. This week, we’re highlighting some of our members who are working to end mental health stigma by sharing our Vibe Check Resource Guide with their peers:

Angel V., 17: "I have spent my high school career overcoming personal conflict and mental illness and have persevered not only to overcome and finish high school but have also learned how to be successful and graduate with a Cambridge diploma and a gpa of 4.3. I have the courage to continue to overcome obstacles in my way and want to share my experience with others to show others what is possible even when we are living through difficult circumstances. I want to show others that even in our weakness we can show strength by moving forward and doing what we can when we can for ourselves and others along the way. I believe helping others by being an example and sharing what i've learned can help them by showing strength and in return allows them to have the courage to be strong as well."

Evander B., 17: "I think mental health is incredibly important, especially in high school. A lot of people I know, including friends, are really stressed about their futures. A handful have entirely dropped their goals and given up on school as a whole. I saw the article and thought, maybe this could help, especially with the people with social anxiety."

Cassie, 18: “I'm the one with the pink hair! My name is Cassie, and I've always been a promoter of mental health and doing what's good for your physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. Here, I am showing my friend Kierra about what the Vibe Check has to offer. I made a copy of it for her to keep and she is doing it herself. This is important to me because I struggled with depression, social anxiety, and anorexia as a kid and still have those urges now. However, by working through these feelings and urges, we can overcome them together. Now that we've opened this line of communication, Kierra and I talk more about our mental health and how we are helping it every day."

You can join in on Vibe Check too! Just download the guide, pass it to a friend, and then let us know how it went. You’ll be entered to earn a $2,000 scholarship when you do!

Midterms still aren’t over…The Georgia runoff election will take place on December 6th and the deadline to request an absentee ballot is November 28th. If you’re registered in Georgia, make sure to get your vote in on time as this is an important election that could tip the balance of power in the country. Close races like these are a reminder that registering to vote and getting our ballots in on time is crucial!

ICYMI…Last week we hosted our virtual event Make STEM 100% which was all about demystifying STEM and featured a stellar panel of experts. Couldn’t make it? No worries, here’s a recording of the event. We also had our post-election Town Hall: The State of Youth Activism, which you can watch here.

Speaking of trailblazers… We know this week is all about mental health, but we also want to mention before you go that youth climate activists are also trailblazing conversations about equitable solutions to the climate crisis. COP27 just wrapped up and one of the biggest takeaways is that some countries are agreeing to pay damages to others, recognizing the disproportionate ways in which climate change impacts developing nations. Find out more here.

Fastweb

New Scholarships Alert!

National Scholarship Month

National Scholarship Month is a great time to explore scholarships and to apply for each opportunity! Refine your scholarship application standards this November by picking a goal that works for you. Enter in three steps: 1. Be a Fastweb member. 2. Answer a multiple-choice question. There’s no wrong answer. 3. Submit your entry by November 30, 2022. Enter the sweepstakes daily!

Did you know…November is National Scholarship Month?! Score. Our friends at CollegeXpress are giving away a $1000 no-essay scholarship through November 30! And all you have to do is answer one simple question. 

Complete a free profile on CollegeXpress and answer the following to be entered: In honor of National Scholarship Month, how many scholarships have you applied for this year?

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