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"Be creative and you will reach more people": youth's experiences participating in an arts-based social action group aimed at mental health stigma reduction.

Author
Abstract
:

: Starting in 2013, the Mental Health Youth Action Board, made up of 15 teens ages 15-18, was created to advise a large children's hospital on improvements in mental health care and produce social action projects to impact community perceptions of mental health.: This participatory qualitative case study explored the experiences of 14 young people who participated in the Mental Health Youth Action Board between 2013 and 2016.: There were two higher order themes: process and outcomes. Process-related themes included how this was a unique leadership experience, the importance of the arts-based approach, and value of the intentionally constructed storytelling process. These processes led to youth growing as advocates for mental health.: Arts-based approaches to social action that allow youth to share personal experiences of stigmatized topics can promote healing and support their growth as leaders.

Year of Publication
:
2020
Journal
:
Arts & health
Volume
:
12
Issue
:
1
Number of Pages
:
23-37
ISSN Number
:
1753-3015
DOI
:
10.1080/17533015.2018.1534249
Short Title
:
Arts Health
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