Our Ys across the state have been incorporating mental health resources and support as part of the Mental Health Community Care Model via the Alliance's statewide funding to expand or launch teen programming with an intentional focus on mental health. 

To date, 356 Y youth-serving staff have been certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA).  Equipped with training to identify when a teen may need professional help, staff have referred 100 teens/their families to a mental health provider. We do not know the details, but we know that our staff are playing a role in supporting teens when they are struggling with their mental health and helping them get needed resources. This is something to celebrate.

Another measure of this work is social emotional learning (SEL) growth among the teens we serve. While SEL and mental health are not the same, SEL promotes positive mental health in many ways and builds protective factors that help shield against mental health risks and supports resilience. While YMCAs are still early in this work around mental health, and particularly in measuring SEL capacity growth for teens, initial data is significant.

From summer programs at NC Ys where teens participated in pre- and post-assessments with the Hello Insight (HI) tool, 97% of 569 teens to date demonstrated meaningful growth in at least one CORE SEL capacity (academic self-efficacy, contribution, positive identify, self-management and social skills), and 36% made significant gains in all five capacities.

HI assessments identify whether teens demonstrate “Emerging” or “Advanced SEL” capacity based on a national data set. Young people who are Emerging scored below the HI national average in one or more SEL capacities and have the most room for growth. Those who are Advanced scored above the national average demonstrating strength in CORE SEL overall or specific SEL capacities.  Among the 569 teens, 37% were Emerging in CORE SEL overall (scoring below the national average) but within that group, nearly two-thirds, 64%, succeeded in demonstrating meaningful growth in CORE SEL. 

Additional bright spots:

• Of the 44% (close to half) of young people who were Emerging in Self-Management at pre-assessment, nearly 68% showed meaningful growth at post-assessment
   
• Of the 32% of young people (almost one-third) of young people who were Emerging in Positive Identify, 71% showed meaningful growth at post.
   
•  More than one-quarter of teens (28%) were Emerging in Contribution, and 68% of that group showed meaningful growth at post.
   
• Of the 22% who were Emerging in Academic Self-Efficacy, two-thirds (67%) of young people showed meaningful growth.

The Alliance reports this data to the state as part of the metrics for the teen mental health grant funding, and it’s a valuable tool to leverage for advocacy purposes for our Ys. Thank you to our Y leaders for continuing to train staff in YMHFA, implementing positive youth development and SEL practices, utilizing the HI assessment tools, and especially for building relationship with teens that support their resilience and mental health.