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Ahead of Mental Health Action Day, this new tool provides a new resource to empower young people to advance advocacy efforts
WASHINGTON, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Evokate, a new online tool to address the growing mental health challenges facing youth and young adults, launched today to give young adults access to resources and tools to learn how to advocate for mental health policy changes in their communities.
Evokate was created by the National Mental Health Advisory Board, a group of young adults from across the country, aged 16-24, committed to strengthening mental health awareness and advocacy efforts. The Advisory Board was convened and supported by leading mental health advocacy groups Active Minds, Well Being Trust, and Young Invincibles.
The development of this tool is in direct response to survey results from 400-plus young adults who, when asked what they think about mental health, reported that their top three issues of concern included racial justice, LGBTQ+ health and well-being, and access to health care. The survey also showed that a high percentage of youth and young adults did not feel adequately equipped to advocate for mental health issues in their communities.
“We must continue to combat stigma and tear down the negative connotations of mental illnesses,” said Olivia Zhena member of the National Mental Health Advisory Board. “Evokate gives youth and young adults the framework to utilize mental health resources to work toward increased mental health care access and equity in their communities.”
The digital tool’s name blends the concepts of ‘evoking’ and ‘advocating’, because of its purpose to evoke powerful emotions through recounting real stories and lived experiences about mental health and well-being, and because the tool is a source for existing and up-and-coming advocates who wish to bring forward their passion and skills about these issues to demand and take action …
Full story available on Benzinga.com
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