Rochester Takes Action: Launching a Youth Mental Health Initiative for Summer Break

In preparation for the summer break, the city of Rochester is launching a youth mental health initiative. The initiative begins with a community survey that aims to identify factors affecting the well-being of teenagers in the city. Questions on the survey include inquiries about safety at home, in school, and in the neighborhood, as well as eating habits and housing reliability.

After identifying areas of concern through the survey, the initiative will transition into a peer-led workshop series led by teens who are part of Youth Voice One Vision. The workshops will focus on key areas of concern identified in the survey responses.

Sarah Adams, a youth activist and council member, emphasized the importance of youth involvement in the initiative. She encouraged all city youth to participate in the survey and contribute to improving their own mental health. The peer-to-peer mental health program is a collaboration between the city government and the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, with this summer serving as a soft launch and next year as the full rollout.

Mayor Malik Evans expressed his significance, stating that youth mental health is a crucial conversation for the community to have. He highlighted the role of youth in shaping a brighter future for