Youth-Led Mental Health Awareness Project
In August 2025, NAMI Multnomah was awarded a grant from the National Alliance on Mental Illness to engage a group of young people (ages 16-25) with lived experience in a youth-led project to raise awareness of mental health issues. They were tasked with identifying the mental health issue they were most concerned about and then designing a community event to address it.
We recruited a remarkable group of young people (pictured right). Together, they successfully completed a series of training sessions focused on culturally competent mental health care, youth leadership in action, supporting mental health in educational settings, reducing stigma, building communities, and understanding mental health policy and legislation.
Over the next few months, they decided to address the stigma around mental health that prevents youth from getting the help they need, and met regularly to plan how to address it.
Pictured from left to right: Mica Dorfman, Cing Hoih, Gina Hilstrom, Aubrianna McPherson, Xavier Juarez, Nova Millard, Dion Michaels, and Benji Englehardt, with Evelin Carmona and Jackie Anderson Ryan on Zoom.
Young People Know What They Need
On Saturday, February 28, 2026, project leaders hosted their Ending the Stigma mental health event at PCC Southeast, creating a welcoming space for young people and community members to engage in honest, courageous conversations about mental health. Event MC Mica Dorfman opened the gathering, reminding participants that, no matter how they felt—excited, nervous, curious—they truly belonged. She set the stage for the panel discussion by emphasizing confidentiality, respect for differences, self-care, and leading with kindness.
Panelists Xavier Juarez, Kimberly Tucker, and Tara Criscuolo shared powerful personal stories and experiences that illuminated the real barriers to accessing healthcare, including stigma, cost, workforce shortages, and cultural challenges. Mica and Xavier are members of the YMHP group that organized the event, while Kimberly and Tara are dedicated volunteers with NAMI Multnomah.
The discussion showcased resilience, peer support, and the transformative power of storytelling to break the silence and foster change. Panelists offered thoughtful insights on supporting someone who is struggling, the importance of language, and how community connection enhances mental health. After the panel, guests participated in several wellness activities, like journaling, beading bracelets, and painting stones.
As the event concluded, Mica inspired participants, reminding them that combating stigma surrounding mental health is a collective journey, not achieved through a single conversation. It requires our continuous commitment to listen without judgment, seek help when needed, and embody everyday courage. Thank you to everyone who participated. Together, we are building a future without stigma, where talking about mental health is recognized as essential to everyday life.
What would it look like if every mental health initiative started by asking young people what they actually need, and then trusted them to help build it? Events like this one suggest the answer was in the room. We just have to be willing to listen.
Questions? Please contact Lily Brodrick, Communications & Program Coordinator, at lbrodrick@namimultnomah.org or 971-429-3629.