Youth MOJO Mental Health Campaign Report: Our Healing in Our Hands
Over the past several years, Youth MOJO members have experienced and recognized a heightened sense of fear, depression, and anxiety in themselves and among their peers. In response to their personal and collective experiences of feeling unsupported in accessing mental health services, youth leaders sought to better understand the mental health services that exist for youth in SFUSD and the systemic, emotional and cultural barriers to students’ utilization of services.
Drawing on existing research of race-based disparities in use of SFUSD Wellness Centers[1], youth members sought to better understand and respond to the challenges in outreach and engaged use of mental health services among students of color, especially Asian American youth, in SFUSD. Their research efforts aim to improve access and competency in mental health services for Asian American youth, and all youth of color, towards a vision of schools that are safe, supportive, and welcoming of all students.
About Chinese Progressive Association: Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) is a nonprofit that educates, organizes and empowers the low-income and working class immigrant Chinese community in San Francisco to demand better living and working conditions and justice for all people. CPA has been organizing with workers in San Francisco’s Chinese immigrant community since the 1970s.
About Youth MOJO: Youth Movement of Justice and Organizing (MOJO) is a youth leadership development program of the Chinese Progressive Association for high school students in San Francisco. Youth MOJO works on social justice issues affecting low-income Chinese families such as healthcare, education, immigration, and workers’ rights by empowering young people to work towards positive change in our communities. Through Youth MOJO, youth develop and strengthen leadership, public speaking, outreaching, communication, advocacy and organizing skills while having fun and meeting new friends in a friendly and engaging environment.
