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In this article:
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Providence offers Work2BeWell (W2BW), an organization that wants to support teens with their mental health and emotional well-being.
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We are now accepting applications for the W2BW Student Advisory Council, which allows teens to have a say in how they want to transform mental health.
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Providence has supported other efforts to focus on teen mental health, including hosting discussions surrounding a new documentary on teen mental illness.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people ages 15-24 in the United States. Nearly 20% of high school students have reported thinking about suicide, and 9% have attempted to take their own lives.
These sobering statistics have prompted behavioral health specialists at Providence to create opportunities for teens to help support each other. Work2BeWell (W2BW) is an organization that aims to give all teens better mental health support and improve their emotional well-being.
W2BW’s Student Advisory Council
W2BW’s Student Advisory Council asks students, “How do you want to transform mental health?” Members of the 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 comprises teens across the United States. And schools everywhere have access to digital resources to help reduce the mental health stigma in their districts.
W2BW National Student Advisory Council, now accepting applications!
Now through May 19, 2023, W2BW is accepting applications for its National Student Advisory Council (NSAC).
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.
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 19
- The week of June 12: Notifications will be sent to team leads
- The week of July 10: Notifications will be out to the NSAC Council
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.
Continued work for teen mental health
The National Student Advisory Council has had a profound impact on many young people’s lives, and it has inspired some to share their story on a more regional level. One of those students is Hailey Hardcastle, who was a founder of Work2BeWell and a former NSAC member.
Hailey and a group of other high school students lobbied the Oregon legislature on the importance of teen mental health. As a result, the legislature passed a bill in 2019 that requires K-12 schools to allow mental health days for students.
Hailey now reaches out to schools via social media to mentor them about lobbying for mental health days in their areas. Currently, 12 states allow mental health days for students.
Documentary on mental illness
In addition to the Work2BeWell program, Providence is making other efforts to normalize the conversation around teen mental health. Last year, we supported the new documentary “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness.” The four-hour television event aired on PBS in June and used interviews with 25 young people to talk about stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. It shows how difficult it can be for many young people to gain access to proper treatment.
At Providence, we are committed to helping young people find the help they need, wherever and whenever they need it. Our goal is to make sure every teen knows they are not alone.
Find a doctor
To find a pediatrician or mental health provider for your teen, you can use our provider directory.
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Related resources
Signs of an eating disorder in your teen
Partnership addresses youth mental health crisis
Mental health webinar series for teens
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
