“Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.” ~ Noam Shpancer, PhD.
Lisa Thomas, Dean of Students at Northwestern Michigan College, opened the fifth Elevate Nothern Michigan Youth Mental Health Summit with this quote.
It was a great reminder that our mental health is a process – not a destination.
This concept was reinforced by the three Summit speakers:
- Trojans Unite from Traverse City Central High School
- Tommy’s First Mates from Glen Lake High School
- LIFT from Leland, Northport and Suttons Bay High Schools
These science-based, student-led, and school-embraced peer-to-peer programs are the gold standard for boosting knowledge, shifting attitudes, and decreasing stigma.
You can view their slides HERE.
And the Summit photos taken by Alan Newton HERE.
During the open roundtable, we also heard from NAMI Grand Traverse, Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Safer Kids Safer Schools representatives – another good reminder that there are many caring adults in northern Michigan willing to play a role in protecting the mental health of our kids.
This fifth Summit (our first was in August 2022) made me realize that a self-organizing, citizen-led community like We Fight that is guided by the Surgeon General’s recent advisory can indeed make a contribution by:
- connecting youth leaders
- shifting attitudes
- boosting knowledge
- growing community support
- building political will
- decreasing stigma
- conveneing conversations
- telling stories
Thank you to the United Way of Northwest Michigan and NMC for their support and sponsorship of Elevate Northern Michigan.
Save the date: Elevate #6 will be in May of 2024.
And if you already haven’t, please join We Fight.
Good Works Lab 