Black Youth Mental Health

In 2022, the University of Nevada, Reno was honored to be one of just eight recipients nationwide to receive funding from the National Office of Minority Health to “demonstrate policy effectiveness to promote Black youth mental health initiatives.”

This Black Youth Mental Health (BYMH) project focuses on empowering Black and LGBTQ+ Nevadans aged 12-17 to become mental health advocates within their communities. Through a combination of in-person and online training, participants are gaining critical insights into the legislative process, learning how to effectively advocate for change, and building valuable leadership skills.

The program will culminate in 2025 with a youth-led policy forum in Las Vegas on January 9th (register here) and will feature opportunities for these young advocates to testify before state legislators on issues they are passionate about.
Stay tuned for updates and our final report!

“What inspired me to join this [project] was that mental health is very important, but it is not talked about enough. Being able to express yourself and how you feel can really help people, and it helps them get more comfortable. Personally, I’m not good at expressing myself because it’s really nerve wracking and I’m afraid of being judged, but ever since I joined the [project] it has helped me get more comfortable.”

Program Participant

The Black Youth Mental Health Project is a youth-centered program that seeks to create a new generation of Black and LGBTQ+ youth advocates for comprehensive, culturally competent mental health policy.

This program aims to raise awareness about health disparities facing Black and LGBTQ+ youth, while also providing them with the tools and inspiration to address those disparities.