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In this article:
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The Work2BeWell (W2BW) program at Providence offers resources that respond to the urgent mental health needs of today’s teens.
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Members of W2BW’s National Student Advisory Council (NSAC) help break the stigma of mental health in their schools and beyond.
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Through May 16, 2022, W2BW is accepting applications from high school students who want to serve on the NSAC and work to improve teen mental health.
Suicide is the second leading cause of teen deaths in the Pacific Northwest. In response to rising teen suicide rates and the increasing mental health crisis for young people, Work2BeWell has risen to the challenge of giving teens hope.
What is Work2BeWell?
Work2BeWell (W2BW) is an organization founded by behavioral health specialists at Providence to give all teens better mental health support and improve their emotional well-being. W2BW’s power is in its National Student Advisory Council model. Rather than making guesses about how to lighten the mental burden of teens, we ask the experts: high school students.
We ask students “how do you want to transform mental health?” Members of W2BW’s student advisory council have answered that question through a variety of initiatives, projects, and even a mental health bill that legally allows students to take mental health days off of school in the state of Oregon.
Thanks to the expertise of Providence behavioral health specialists and the lived experience of students who have battled mental health struggles, Work2BeWell’s influence is now national. The student advisory council is made up of teens across the United States. And schools everywhere have access to digital resources to help reduce the mental health stigma in their districts.
National Student Advisory Council, now accepting applications!
Now through May 16, 2022, W2BW is accepting applications for their National Student Advisory Council (NSAC).
According to the W2BW website, the NSAC is a group of teenage leaders dedicated to the mental health of students and empowering teens to thrive through access to mental health resources and connections with peers and educators.
The council is composed of high school-age students from a variety of backgrounds, schools, and states who believe in the W2BW vision. NSAC students are selected through a nomination, application, or interview process.
Students who join the NSAC also have an amazing opportunity to be part of mental health summits and develop new initiatives. Check out the amazing work that they accomplished in 2021!
NSAC allows students to focus on their passion
Moreover, students get to focus on the specific area of advocacy work that they are most passionate about. The council is organized into three teams based on interest and passion to support and provide input for the W2BW vision. Each team has student leads who make up the key leadership for that year’s council and serve as liaisons to the program team. Also, each team is paired with a Work2BeWell Mentor. The teams and their focus areas include:
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Access team: Work2BeWell, in partnership with Providence, provides free, clinically-vetted mental health resources and curriculum modules to educators, students, and parents through our digital platforms.
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Education team: Through curriculum, conferences, mental health events, and special trainings, Work2BeWell equip educators, teens, and parents to take the Work2BeWell movement into their own communities.
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Activation team: Work2BeWell aims to activate students, educators, and parents to focus on local change through awareness, advocacy, and engagement.
Why join the National Student Advisory Council?
Being part of the NSAC for W2BW is an experience that both improves the lives of students across the region and the students who serve on the council.
“I remember immediately feeling like something was really different with [Work2BeWell.] It was completely student-led and student-focused. We were encouraged to talk about topics that weren’t welcome in other spaces,” Haley Hardcastle, an alumna of the NSAC says. “There is an intrinsic power of a young person with a desire to create change in your community.”
Finn, an Oregon member of NSAC says, "I joined Work2BeWell because I saw the need in my community and beyond to destigmatize mental health conversations. I am passionate about advocating for mental health and Work2BeWell is a fantastic way to do that.”
It’s an experience that equips teens with lifelong leadership, collaboration, and the skills to create real change in their communities. To hear from the current Work2BeWell leads on why they joined, check out NSAC Student Voices.
Who can apply for the National Student Advisory Council?
Would you or someone you know be a good addition to Work2BeWell’s Student Advisory Council? Any high school student (grades 9-12) with a passion for improving the mental health of other students is eligible to apply to be on the NSAC. Students must be 14 or older to be considered.
It’s a time commitment of one to two hours a week during the school year (August-June.) Most meetings are virtual, but some in-person events and presentations are possible. And there is no cost to participate!
When and how to apply
Application deadlines are coming up soon, and kickoff events in the summer are just around the corner.
- Applications are due by May 16
- The week of June 17: Notifications will be sent to team leads
- The week of July 8: Notifications will be out to the NSAC Council
- The week of July 25: Casual get-to-know NSAC meeting
- The week of August 8: Official kickoff NSAC meeting
Before completing the application, students should read more about the NSAC and be prepared to complete the application in one sitting. Sections 1 and 2 should take 30-40 minutes to complete. Remember to turn in your Section 3 supporting material document via email at support@work2bewell.org.
To apply, please fill out this form.
Learn more about Work2BeWell on social media.
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Visit our Annual Report to our Communities page
To learn more about what we’re doing to help our caregivers and other community partners, check out our Annual Report to our Communities.
Related resources
Teens make a difference with mental health through Work2BeWell (providence.org)
Students celebrate progress in advocating for mental health (providence.org)
National Student Advisory Council
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
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